There was a time not so long ago when the Brooklyn Nets were among the teams hoping to land Cooper Flagg. I even spotted one optimist on the Long Island Rail Road wearing DIY jerseys celebrating that very possibility after the 2024 NBA Draft.
That pipe dream turned into a miracle for the Dallas Mavericks, a team that contended for a play-in spot, fell into the lottery, then landed the No.1 overall pick after having a 1.8% chance at it. There’s no denying Brooklyn’s disappointment when the pick fell the No.8,
but Egor Dëmin has seen his own success early in his career for fans to at least feel good.
Sunday will be a stark reminder of where the Nets are. They’re 2-7, they’ve dropped 118 games in the prior two years, and Houston is holding their pick. Rebuilding is one thing, compounding it with avoidable self-inflicted wounds is another. This is a young team and it’s a long season, but you play to win the game.
They played on Saturday night and lost a game that they should’ve won. Point blank. Nolan Traore has been playing like a star and it continued with 19 points against Atlanta, but Jordi Fernandez benched him the entire fourth quarter. Why?
“Mikel had those five straight points, and I just let him roll. Because you cannot just keep taking them in and out. I think that when I was about to sub Nolan in, Mikel made two or three threes and a mid-range pull-up. So I thought that was the right thing to do. Was it right? I don’t know. Obviously, Nolan did very well. They scored 18 and 19. So that’s a very good contribution from your two point guards.”
Perhaps the funniest part in it all is that they’re only one game out from a play-in spot. It’s early, but there’s reason to be concerned. Especially when Mikel Brown Jr. is sitting this one out (back-to-back), alongside Egor Dëmin (bone bruise).
On the other side, Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and the 5-4 Mavericks are coming off a 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz in NBA Cup play Friday night.
Game Information
- Who: Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks
- When: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- TV: YES Network
- Streaming: DAZN, NBA League Pass
- Radio: WFAN
Nets vs. Mavericks Injury Report
Brooklyn Nets
- OUT: Egor Dëmin (right bone bruise)
- OUT: Mikel Brown Jr. (back-to-back)
Dallas Mavericks
- OUT: Tarik Biberovic (right heel bursitis)
- OUT: Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery)
- OUT: Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain)
Preview
“If they want to win, they’ll need to slow down an old friend. Kyrie Irving is back after missing last year with an ACL tear. He’s averaging 21 points a night and the shooting splits are quality enough, but HOW he’s getting his buckets are a bit different than what we’re used to. His field goal attempts inside of three feet are at the lowestmark of his career and his three point rate is at the highest of his career. Chances are that’ll change the further he gets away from the injury, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on. Either way, Irving remains a magnetic scorer and a blast to watch when his game is on.” – Brian Fleurantin
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