SALT LAKE CITY — The Nets’ recreation Friday in opposition to the Jazz was a homecoming of types. Each Royce O’Neale and coach Jacque Vaughn began their taking part in careers with Utah. O’Neale, who was traded to the Nets this previous offseason, even acquired a tribute video proper earlier than pregame introductions.
Then O’Neale went out and scored 13 factors as his new staff beat his outdated one, 117-106. O’Neal scored 9 fast factors within the first quarter because the Nets took a 24-11 lead.
“It’s a terrific feeling, all of the love they confirmed. I used to be right here for 5 years, had a number of nice reminiscences right here and to really feel that welcome again meant lots,” mentioned O’Neale, who completed with six assists, 5 rebounds, and a plus-10 for the sport.
“Royce has been enormous for us, not solely on the ground, within the locker room, the consistency that he brings each single day, the enjoyment that he brings to the gymnasium each single day,” Vaughn mentioned earlier than the sport. “A man that I take pleasure in teaching, take pleasure in being round, rely on. He’s performed a number of minutes for us, totally different roles, semi-point guard at instances, four-man at instances. So little little bit of every little thing and admire all of it.”
O’Neale spent his first 5 NBA seasons with the Jazz, earlier than the Nets acquired him this summer season for a first-round decide. Vaughn performed his first 4 years (1997-2001) with Utah, as a teammate of Corridor of Fame level guard John Stockton.
Nic Claxton had 20 factors, 11 rebounds and was a staggering plus-29. Most noteworthy have been his 4 blocks, giving him a minimum of three in 11 straight video games. That ties Shawn Bradley (1996) for the longest stretch in Nets historical past.
Kyrie Irving’s 48 factors, eight 3-pointers, 11 rebounds and 4 steals all both tied or set season highs.
Vaughn has been reshuffling his rotations, making an attempt to get by means of three video games in 4 nights and discover a sizzling hand to journey within the absence of Kevin Durant, out after spraining his proper MCL.
T.J. Warren was recent after being restricted to only eight minutes the night time earlier than at Phoenix, his fewest as a Web. He performed 18 minutes off the bench Friday, however scored simply 5 factors.
Seth Curry has gotten extra taking part in time recently and got here into Friday averaging 15.8 factors in eight January video games, capturing 52.7 % general and 48.9 from 3-point vary.
He scored 10 factors and shot 2-for-6 from past the arc Friday. He had averaged 18.3 factors in his earlier three video games, and logged a season-high 36 minutes Thursday.
The sport Sunday at Golden State will mark the primary time Seth Curry will face his large brother Stephen Curry since becoming a member of the Nets. The 2-time MVP was injured for the Nets’ 30-point win over the defending champions in Barclays Middle in December, however the groups are in very totally different locations now.
Talking of the elder Curry, he tops the NBA jersey gross sales, with Durant fifth and Irving fifteenth. The Lakers — led by No. 2 vendor LeBron James — prime the staff checklist, with the Nets eighth.