Jordi Fernández couldn’t remember ever seeing the number of fast break points on Monday’s stats.
The Nets’ first home win of the season came from turning defense into offense with 22 fast break points scored. They also had a season-high 33 assists against 11 turnovers, and they forced 18 turnovers from the Hornets for 27 points, another season high.
Many of those numbers in the 116-103 win over the Hornets at Barclays Center came on big efforts from rookie Drake Powell.
After coming up with a loose ball in the second quarter, the UNC product sprinted in transition and lobbed a ball up for a Michael Porter Jr. dunk. to leave the Hornets behind by just three points.
Later in the third quarter, Powell’s defensive hands caught the ball from Collin Sexton’s crossover. With the steal, he had a dunk finish at the other end, putting the Nets up 83-79.
He went on to score 10 points and notch four assists and three steals with just one turnover. His defensive skills, highly prized by the Nets, were once again on display.
“His line – the four assists to one turnover – is huge. But like I said, for me it was like this: he embraces the fact that he is a high-level defender and I think he did that today,” Fernández said. “He takes the ball full court. He can stay in front of the ball. I think he got deflections.”
In the second half, the Nets held the Hornets to 44 points on 35 percent shooting from the field. They struggled to stop Kon Knueppel, who shot 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. Yet after twelve points in the first half, the guard only had five in the second half.
Powell has logged many games with Knueppel as his defensive assignment. The two played against each other in the ACC in college, Powell with the Tar Heels and Knueppel with Duke.
“I would say maybe a little bit, just him initiating a little bit, obviously with LaMelo Ball,” Powell said of any differences in facing Knueppel in the NBA. “But still a very talented player and quick trigger. Plays on two feet. Just a smart basketball player.”
“I thought our ball pressure was much better. I thought Ziaire.” [Williams] and Drake were excellent with our ball pressure….” Fernandez added. “[We] the game didn’t start well. They were loose with their urges. Their pick-and-roll is what they do best… But in that second half, I think the point of attack was handled much better. And I think those two guys did a great job, and then everyone else.”
Powell’s defensive prowess and athleticism have proven to be huge assets for the Nets as they focus on the future and developing their young players in another rebuilding year. On the offensive side, however, the No. 22 pick will be challenged to shoot the ball more as he becomes more comfortable on the court.
Powell shot 2-for-5 from deep on Monday, which was a big jump from his season average of 1.9 attempts. He shot 37 percent from deep this season and had a conversation with Fernández before the game about not hesitating.
“Obviously we want him to be aggressive, we want him to shoot the ball, and he did that today,” the coach said. “He shot five threes. We felt like he had passed a lot of them in the last few games and today he was quicker to make it fly. And guess what? He went in. He shot five and if he shoots more, I wouldn’t be mad at him.”
With Terance Mann sidelined due to sore ribs, the 20-year-old took advantage of his open chance on 24 minutes, outpacing Tyrese Martin (19), who started in place of Mann. Powell will be tasked with maintaining a consistent pace in his expanded role in the Nets’ rotation.
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