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Nets player grades after 114-104 win over Brandon Miller, Hornets
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- Nets player grades after 114-104 win over Brandon Miller, Hornets
NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets (2-6) had been talking about what they needed to do if they were going to end the losing and put together a winning streak that everyone can be proud of. Brooklyn didn't get what they wanted in a very winnable game at the New York Knicks , but they made sure to play for all four quarters against the visiting Charlotte Hornets (3-6).
The Nets beat the Hornets on Wednesday 114-104 thanks to several players stepping up in the second half when the team needed a lift, including some unlikely candidates. Forward Michael Porter Jr. had 26 points and 10 rebounds while forward Julius Randle had 22 points and 4 assists. Rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. had 18 points and four assists off the bench while forward Danny Wolf had 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
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The Nets went into halftime trailing the Hornets 57-50 as players like guard Grayson Allen (20 points) and forward Naz Reid (11 points, six rebounds) gave them a run for their money. In the second half, Brooklyn managed to turn the game around on its head as players like Porter (17 points) and Wolf (13) caught fire when their teammates needed them the most.
Here are the Nets player grades following Wednesday's win over the Hornets:
Nolan Traore: A
Traore continued his stretch of solid play as he did a good job of scoring the ball from all three areas of the floor while not going outside of what he's capable of doing. Traore did not rack up the assists like he has been since entering the starting lineup, but he did a good job of running the offense and was able to make some nice plays on the defensive end of the floor.
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Chaney Johnson: D
Johnson remained in the starting lineup for this game and while head coach Jordi Fernandez tried to go with him as long as he could, Fernandez eventually chose to go in a different direction. Johnson wasn't able to get anything going on the offensive end of the floor and while he played hard, there were other players ready to make an impact for Brooklyn.
Michael Porter Jr.: A+
Porter has been one of the main scoring options for the Nets since he came to the team prior to last season and this game was an example of why Brooklyn traded for him in the first place. Porter was scoring from all over the floor and when the Nets needed someone to step up in the fourth quarter, he responded with a scintillating sequence of three made three-pointers in a little over one minute.
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Julius Randle: A
Similar to Porter, Randle is one of the guys that the Nets are counting on for production on both ends of the floor, especially on the offensive end. This was Randle's most efficient game in quite some time and he did it through a series of taking what the defense gave him and being able to make his open three-pointers when he had some space.
Day'Ron Sharpe: A
Sharpe looked like he was head for another rough game as he picked up two fouls less than two minutes into the game and seemed to be picking up a foul here and there that stopped his momentum. However, Sharpe managed to stay out of foul trouble in the second half and that allowed him to carve up Charlotte's defense with his passing while showing his ability to protect the rim as well.
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Noah Clowney: Incomplete
Clowney was actually on his way to a solid game after Fernandez turned to him to play some of the minutes that would've went to Johnson, especially to close the first half. However, Clowney was ruled out for the rest of the game due to right knee soreness, but he left the game with 7 points and one rebound while playing solid defense on the perimeter.
Mo Wagner: C+
When Sharpe has gotten into foul trouble, Wagner has been the person to come off the bench to replace him and in this game, that happened less than the aforementioned two minutes that passed in the first quarter. Wagner did a good job of scoring the ball around the rim, but he has had more of a presence rebounding and he found himself in foul trouble as well.
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Keon Ellis: D
Ellis has been coming off the bench for the past few games and while Fernandez is still looking to him for defense and shooting, the former Cleveland Cavaliers stars hasn't done much of the latter. Ellis has still been giving his best effort on the defensive end of the floor and has been disruptive, but the hope is that his shooting can have more of an impact moving forward.
Mikel Brown Jr.: B+
Brown has been slowly integrated into the rotation as the team tries to monitor his back injury that cost him half of his freshman college season, but he's looking more comfortable at the NBA level with each passing game. Brown scored at an efficient clip from all over the floor and while he had as many assists as turnovers, he still looked confident with the ball in his hands and played solid defense.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets player grades after 114-104 win over Brandon Miller, Hornets
