The Nets got 22 points from DeMarre Carroll on Monday against the Knicks, but just 35 points from the other four starters as the team shot 37 percent in a 119-104 loss to their division rivals. Spencer Dinwiddie went 2-for-14 in the game, finishing with just eight points in 28 minutes. “To a certain extent, it’s a make-or-miss league,” he said after the game. “As a unit, we shot in the 30s. That’s not very good.” The Nets didn’t get a break in their next game, with LaMarcus Aldridge and the Spurs rolling through Brooklyn and picking up a 100-95 win. Allen Crabbe had 20 points, but the next highest scorer in the starting lineup was DeMarre Carroll with 11 points.
The Nets built a defensive wall against the Heat, and improved to 11-1 this season when limiting their opponent to under 100 points in a 101-95 win over the Miami Heat. Carroll continued his strong play of late, with a career-high 26 points. Caris LeVert was big for the Nets too, with a clutch basket late helping protect the lead. They also got D’Angelo Russell back, but the Nets are limiting him to under 20 minutes a game. Russell played 14 minutes against the Heat, and just 14 minutes against the Pistons on Sunday. The Nets were able to pick up a win Sunday too, helping them split the week 2-2. Dinwiddie was able to have a nice game against the Pistons guards, a unit that is sorely missing Reggie Jackson, with 22 points on 13 field goal attempts.