Seth Curry’s strong debut leads Nets past Kings

Seth Curry scored 23 points in his debut for the Brooklyn Nets, who ended an 11-game losing streak with a 109-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings in New York Monday night, February 14 (Tuesday, February 15, Manila time).

Curry helped Brooklyn get its first win since beating the San Antonio Spurs on January 21 by hitting 10 of 18 shots, including three triples. Curry also added 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

LaMarcus Aldridge returned from missing eight games with a sprained left ankle and added 19 points and 8 rebounds. Bruce Brown contributed a season-high 19 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals and rookie Cam Thomas chipped in 14 as the Nets shot 51.2%.

Andre Drummond, who was acquired along with Curry from Philadelphia in Thursday’s deal for James Harden, finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds in his Brooklyn debut as Ben Simmons watched the game from the bench.

De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points, but the Kings shot 34.4%. Rookie Davion Mitchell added 13 points and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 12 for Sacramento, which saw its starting frontcourt of Harrison Barnes, Maurice Harkless, and Domantas Sabonis combine for 16 points.

Brown scored 10 points as the Nets shot led by as many as 19 and held a 35-24 lead through the opening quarter. Sacramento twice cut the deficit to three points late in the second quarter and Brooklyn held a 55-48 lead by halftime.

A layup by Barnes got Sacramento within 55-54 a little over a minute into the third and the Nets countered with a 15-3 run as Curry scored 12 points and hit an 18-footer for a 70-57 lead with 6:41 left. 

Consecutive dunks by James Johnson and Drummond opened a 78-61 lead with 2:56 left and Brooklyn entered the fourth with an 80-66 lead.

The Nets held a 93-74 lead when Curry returned with 8:07 remaining and the Kings cut the deficit to 12 on two occasions. The Nets finally finished it off when Brown’s layup made it 101-85 with 3:36 remaining. – Rappler.com