Egor Dëmin struggled through an invisible three-point, four-foul game in the Nets’ 123-110 win over Utah on Thursday night at Barclays Center, recording a low-energy 20:23 — and just 3:32 in the fourth quarter as he ceded playing duties to Ben Saraf and Tyrese Martin.
But coach Jordi Fernández gave the lottery a pass, saying the teenager was ill and should return Saturday against New Orleans.
“The energy wasn’t great, but he was having some upper respiratory problems,” Fernández said. “I felt like him [tried] very difficult, and the intentions were in the right place. It was just my decision because I know he had problems with that. He was cleared to play, but it was something he had to deal with.
“That wasn’t his game. I have to get some rest, go back and sleep well. And then I know he’s doing better. I know he’ll come back. He sets high standards for himself.”
Danny Wolf scored 17 points and a career-high nine rebounds for a plus-7 mark in another strong performance since being recalled from the G-League.
Over the past five games, he is averaging 12.4 points, 5.8 boards and 2.4 assists on 44 percent shooting from deep.
The big man added three assists and showed his game, but also his penchant for losing the ball. With the game tied at 98-98, his ill-advised crosscourt pass was taken off and resulted in a tiebreaking Jazz 3-pointer. The Nets never regained the lead.
“We keep talking about the efficiency of the game. He had one that was questionable. … That’s going to come with reps. He’s very smart. His basketball IQ is high. And he’s just got to correct that. But I thought his impact on the game tonight and the last three games was [good]Fernandez said.
“Obviously I had a few too many turnovers last game. A lot of that is just under my control,” Wolf said. “[Thursday] I did a better job of not forcing some of those passes and obviously got them late in the fourth. I thought I saw something was wrong and they had it in their hands and it was a great asset. I wish I could get that back. But as long as the coach entrusts me with the ball, it is up to me to take control of the ball and not give it up.”
Noah Clowney had 29 points – tied for the second most of his career – filling in for the absent Michael Porter Jr.
“I have to be more aggressive when he’s not playing,” Clowney said. “The three games he didn’t play, I felt like I was the center of the other team. They treated me like a No. 1 option. I’ve never been a No. 1 option since high school, so I’ve never had to adjust to that. … It’s different when he doesn’t play.”
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