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Brooklyn moves to Summer League semi-finals, beating Detroit by 20

Jarrett Allen dominated the action Saturday night in the Summer League playoffs, going off for 30 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks as the Nets beat the Pistons 105-85. Brooklyn will now move on to the semi-finals Sunday.

The Pistons had been undefeated in Summer League action before they faced the Nets. Brooklyn is now 4-1 and winner of four straight. They play the Timberwolves at 8 p.m. Sunday night in one of the semi-final matches. The Pelicans play the Grizzlies at 6 p.m.

Allen wasn’t the only Net to impress at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Two previously underutilized Nets guards had big games. Isaia Cordinier, the French combo guard whose rights the Nets picked up in last year’s Jeremy Lin trade, finished with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting —3-of-4 from three. He also grabbed three rebounds, stole the ball twice and blocked two shots. Ahmed Hill, the undrafted shooting guard out of Virginia Tech, had 10.

The Nets led nearly the whole game thanks in large part to defense and shooting. Brooklyn outrebounded Detroit, 51-35, and blocked nine shots. The Nets shot 50 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range while holding the Pistons to 39.8 percent and 25.7 percent, respectively.

Allen, the Nets third year center, dominated underneath throughout the game, but got fired up in the second quarter when he was pushed underneath the basket. Dzanan Musa had to restrain Allen from throwing hands. Overall,he finished 11-of-15 from the floor, 8-of-10 from the line. The Pistons simply had no answer for Allen, who was a popular attraction for fans post-game.

Cordinier, a big 6’5” guard, played by far his best game. He looked like a solid prospect even if he’s under contract with Nanterre in the French League next season. Head coach Adam Harrington, no doubt aware his team will have to play three games in three nights if it wants to win it all, played Cordinier 20 minutes and he came through. Hill, another 6’5” shooting guard, hit 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, both makes from deep. He played 22 minutes. Amida Brimah, the UConn seven-footer, played 13 minutes, had six rebounds and four blocks.

Cordinier probably had the play of the game...

Josh Gray once again provided a workman-like performance, shooting 5-of-7 for 11 points and leading the team with five assists. The Nets three rookies from last year — Musa, Rodions Kurucs and Theo Pinson — combined for 7-of-31 shooting, scoring only 19 points. Nets rookie Nic Claxton didn’t play. No reason was given. He was suited up.

Jordan Bone, who started for injured point guard Bruce Brown, had 18 points,Khyri Thomas 15 points and five rebounds and Jarrod Uthoff 12 points for the Pistons.