Coach’s ‘baffling’ Simmons call in Nets’ loss; Giddey’s Thunder make big statement — NBA Wrap

Firing head coach Jacque Vaughn might be a part of the answer at Brooklyn but it surely clearly gained’t magically clear up the entire Nets’ issues after a 121-93 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

Interim coach Kevin Ollie was given a first-hand look into simply how a lot wants to alter at Brooklyn because the sharpshooting Raptors prolonged the Nets’ shedding skid to 6 of their final seven video games.

Watch a mean of 9 NBA Regular Season video games per week LIVE on ESPN, out there through Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

The Nets have appeared to create early scoring probabilities in transition all season however on Friday it was the Raptors who have been getting out within the fastbreak and piling on the factors, outscoring Brooklyn 46-10.

The 46 quick break factors marked essentially the most the Nets had given as much as an opponent in a single recreation all season.

Of course, a lot of the Nets eager to get out in transition within the first place comes again to the very fact it’s the finest likelihood Brooklyn has to get essentially the most out of Ben Simmons on offence.

Unfortunately for the Nets when that’s not taking place the offence continues to battle within the halfcourt, particularly when Simmons is joined on the courtroom by both Nic Claxton or Day’Ron Sharpe, neither of that are real outdoors taking pictures threats.

Both have shot 25.0 per cent from downtown this season and Brooklyn’s spacing suffered consequently when both was sharing the courtroom with Simmons.

Speaking earlier than Friday’s recreation, Ollie was requested about what his plans have been to get essentially the most out of Simmons along with his rotations.

“Looking at the rotations seeing who fits with him, being around him this whole season, understanding what he needs to do, how he needs space,” Ollie stated.

“But then it’s also on Ben taking it to the rim, also looking at his gaps and being very aggressive. We’ve told him that and I think he’s going to do that today.”

Ollie was pressed on that time and despatched a transparent message, telling reporters the workforce is “trying to push” Simmons to be extra assertive on the offensive finish.

“I think he’s able to do it and that’s what we’re going to continue to allow him to do with the correct spacing but most of it’s with pace though,” the interim coach added.

“We know with pace with Ben before he got hurt he was rebounding very, very well… and pushing the ball up the court and then when we get in halfcourt situations have him play with pace and the right spacing around him is going to be crucial for him but when he sees that gap he’s got to take it to the rim and I think he’s going to do that.”

Simmons did simply that on the opening possession of the sport, driving proper to the rim after the opening tip-off solely to be blocked by Scottie Barnes who received the end on the opposite finish.

It was not the outcome Simmons was after however the lack of hesitation from the three-time All-Star would have been promising to see for the brand new Nets coach, particularly as he then reduce to the rim off the ball on the following possession.

A Simmons turnover, which immediately led to an Immanuel Quickley 3-pointer, prompted Ollie to name a timeout with the Nets trailing 15-8 after 4 minutes.

At that time the Raptors have been beating the Nets at their very own recreation, outscoring Brooklyn 5-0 in quick break factors whereas taking pictures 4-for-6 (66.7 per cent) early from downtown.

Meanwhile, with out alternatives in transition the Nets offence struggled to generate open appears within the halfcourt, particularly with Simmons and Claxton within the beginning line-up.

Insert Cam Johnson, who’s normally extra of a taking pictures choice than something to assist house the ground, however on Friday made a right away influence on the defensive finish off the bench.

Johnson compelled a turnover from RJ Barrett, stealing the ball and rapidly shifting up the courtroom in transition as he discovered Dennis Schroder who linked with Mikal Bridges for the simple end.

That noticed the Raptors take a timeout, main 24-16 with 3:31 left within the opening quarter, ultimately ending the interval on high 31-20 after scoring 11 quick break factors to Brooklyn’s two.

The Nets had been passing and making an attempt to search for one another extra in Friday’s recreation with combined outcomes and whereas at instances it was a bit an excessive amount of it helped Brooklyn shut the hole to 34-30 early within the second quarter.

Improved outdoors taking pictures from Brooklyn helped hold the rating shut late within the second, with Bridges making a pair of 3-pointers whereas Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV additionally made a couple of massive buckets.

But a 15-7 run to finish the quarter noticed the Raptors take a 59-48 lead into halftime, with three beginning gamers (Scottie Barnes – 14 factors, Gary Trent Jr. – 13 and Quickley – 10) already on double figures.

Bridges, in the meantime, led the best way for Brooklyn with 15 factors — greater than all of its different 4 starters mixed. Walker IV had eight factors off the bench.

Simmons had two rebounds, an help and a turnover in a scoreless opening half because the Australian was given simply 10 minutes.

Simmons was extra closely concerned early within the third as he recorded two fast assists, with the second coming in transition as he handed the ball off to Thomas and set a display to permit the Nets guard to drive in direction of the rim and make the layup.

Simmons’ playmaking is certainly one of his greatest strengths, though it will possibly additionally open up the ground for the Australian to showcase different features of his recreation as was the case when he drove previous Barnes to get the end and foul

Handling the ball, Simmons had each Barnes and Jakob Poeltl trying away anticipating the cross and he took full benefit, aggressively committing to the drive as he attacked the basket.

Thomas then made his second bucket of the sport to pressure the Raptors right into a timeout but it surely did little to sluggish him down, with penetration from Simmons opening up house for the guard to empty a deep 3-pointer and shut the deficit to 61-60.

Just as Toronto’s lead appeared in jeopardy the Raptors went on a 10-0 run to leap forward 71-60 and didn’t look again from that time, operating out 121-93 winners.

Quickley and Trent Jr. scored 24 and 25 factors respectively whereas Scottie Barnes had 18 factors, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block within the win.

Simmoms, in the meantime, completed with two factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

THUNDER MAKE TITLE STATEMENT AGAINST CLIPPERS

The Oklahoma City Thunder have confirmed as soon as once more, if anybody wanted reminding, that they’re the actual deal after outscoring the Los Angeles Clippers by 30 factors within the second half on the best way to a 129-107 win.

In a battle of Western Conference heavyweights it was OKC who stood tallest, scoring 30 quick break factors within the win whereas additionally taking pictures 48.6 per cent from downtown.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to construct his MVP case with 31 factors and eight assists however was well-supported by OKC’s starters, with all 5 hitting double figures within the win.

Josh Giddey had 12 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, one block and three turnovers.

Giddey made a constructive begin as he scored on James Harden for the primary bucket of the night time, then attacking downhill after a defensive rebound quickly after and going proper on the rim.

While the shot didn’t fall it was promising to see the shortage of hesitation from Giddey, who had a couple of moments to neglect early in Friday’s recreation too with a pair of turnovers.

The Clippers have been capable of open up a 23-16 lead with 5 minutes left within the first quarter after a 10-0 run, prompting OKC coach Mark Daigneault to go to his second unit.

It had the specified impact because the bench helped create straightforward buckets in transition because the Thunder completed the quarter on high 35-33.

Overall, the Clippers outscored the Thunder 24-10 within the paint but it surely was cancelled out by OKC’s sizzling taking pictures from downtown, making seven 3-pointers in comparison with simply two for Los Angeles.

Unsurprisingly there was loads of Gilgeous-Alexander within the first quarter for the Thunder, with the MVP candidate scoring 11 factors to go along with three assists, two steals and a block.

New addition Gordon Hayward was met with a rousing applause as he entered the sport firstly of the second quarter as a part of the Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren-led line-up.

Norman Powell was the standout although and in the whole lot early for the Clippers within the second, scoring 14 of their first 17 factors because the Thunder held onto a decent 52-50 lead.

It appeared – at the very least based mostly on the primary half – that this conflict of Western Conference contenders was going to hold within the stability till the ultimate minutes as OKC took a 61-59 lead into halftime.

Giddey, who re-entered the sport halfway by way of the second quarter for Hayward, was capable of get to the road at one level and made each free throws after working in direction of the rim following a pick-and-roll with Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder at halftime with 19 factors, constantly proving himself able to find alternative ways to attain whereas Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 12 for the Clippers.

What a tightly-contested recreation blew open within the third quarter as Oklahoma City stepped it up on the defensive finish, holding Los Angeles to 29 per cent taking pictures within the quarter whereas recording 4 steals and 9 blocks.

It additionally allowed the Thunder to get out in transition for quick break factors the place they continued to thrive on their technique to a 96-82 lead heading into the ultimate quarter.

Interestingly, coach Mark Daigneault opened the quarter with Hayward alongside the standard starters as an alternative of Giddey, maybe getting an early glimpse at how the veteran matches into the rotation.

Giddey, who had three factors, a block, help and rebound in his brief third-quarter stint, got here again into the sport early within the fourth for Gilgeous-Alexander with the Thunder main 100-84 at that time.

The Australian had certainly one of his finest moments of the sport as he aggressively drove in direction of the rim, drawing the foul on Paul George for what turned out to be a three-point play.

Giddey was guarded by Clippers massive man Ivica Zubac in what has grow to be an more and more acquainted defensive look on the 21-year-old from opposition groups.

He made Los Angeles pay for it later within the fourth as Zubac sagged off, anticipating Giddey to cross and leaving the Australian with loads of house to confidently drain a mid-range jumper.

LUKA’S NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE AS AUSSIE GREEN IMPRESSES IN MAVS WIN

Elsewhere, a mixed 58 factors from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker was not sufficient for the Phoenix Suns in a 123-113 loss to a Dallas Mavericks workforce that received 41 factors from Luka Doncic.

It was a close to triple-double for the Slovenian celebrity, who added 11 assists and 9 rebounds within the win, whereas Kyrie Irving had 29 factors and Aussie Josh Green went 3-for-5 from downtown.

Green had 9 factors, 5 assists and two steals within the win.

The Suns have been sharing the ball round properly early, leaping out to an 11-3 lead earlier than some Doncic magic had Dallas solely trailing 15-14 with seven minutes left within the quarter.

Phoenix instantly went on a 6-0 run to re-establish its lead and was up 29-19 at one level earlier than eight fast factors within the ultimate minutes of the quarter for Irving noticed Dallas solely path 33-32 after the interval.

The recreation was properly and actually within the stability by halftime, with Phoenix main 63-60 earlier than the Mavericks outscored the Suns 36-28 within the third with contributions all throughout the board.

Doncic began the quarter off with 9 fast factors however new additions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington have been additionally closely concerned, showcasing the much-improved depth Dallas has behind its celebrity duo.

Doncic put an exclamation mark on his standout recreation with 11 factors, 4 assists and three steals within the fourth quarter alone because the Mavericks completed on high 123-113.