The Nets rolled to a 39–level rout of their first house preseason sport.
It was predictably stuffed with highs, however the unquestioned spotlight was seeing little-used Cui Yongxi drill a warmth examine late 3-pointer — and the bench erupt.
“I had nothing in my thoughts. Once I’m open, I simply shoot straight to the ring. Rating or not, it didn’t matter as a result of I used to be targeted within the sport with my teammates on protection. When I’ve the shot, in fact I [will] take it,” mentioned Cui, carrying a standard black Chinese language go well with within the postgame locker room.
“I went to San Diego, I simply put on slides and quick pants. And proper now, it’s my first house [game], and my Chinese language go well with simply arrived, so I wish to attempt it as a result of it would give me luck.”
It did simply that. Cui had 5 factors and a rebound in his 4:42 on court docket, going 2-of-5 from the ground and even sending the bench into stitches when he known as for a filter.
“Everyone was lit. Everyone’s lit when he hit that 3,” mentioned Cam Thomas. “And when he went iso, all people simply went loopy.”
Ben Simmons had 11 factors and 5 boards in simply 13:09 first half minutes and sat out the second half.
“That was the plan, we needed to play extra minutes. And it ought to have been on me as a result of he ought to have performed somewhat bit extra in that first half. And like I mentioned, I wasn’t mendacity to you guys. I believe he performed 12 [in the opener] and I like 13, so I didn’t lie,” coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned.
“We clearly had a plan for him. And as you guys can count on — I do know that you simply guys are fascinated with this topic — however when you may have a again surgical procedure, it’s important to construct up and go one step at a time so your physique can alter to it. Actual minutes are by no means going to be replicated wherever. Even should you prepare, you don’t have the followers, you don’t have the officers, in order that construct up has acquired to make sense.”
Keon Johnson was out with a minor sprained ankle.
Killian Hayes — hoping to make the roster an Exhibit 10 coaching camp invite, however ineligible for a two-way — missed a second straight sport with a sore hip.
“He’s feeling significantly better. We like the place he’s at, after which we’ll reevaluate [Tuesday],” Fernandez mentioned. “He was in place as a result of he mentioned that he was feeling higher, and he acquired his work in, making an attempt to get again. And you already know he’s doing his job for positive.”
Hayes was let go by Detroit after failing to develop a jumper. He’s making an attempt to catch on in Brooklyn, however it’ll be tougher to impress if he can’t play.
“Killian’s acquired really feel for the sport. He’s labored actually arduous the entire time we’ve had him right here. He’s been actually good in camp. Sadly, a majority of these minor accidents occur,” Fernandez mentioned. “However it’s nothing severe, so he’ll be again quickly and I’d prefer to see him on the court docket. We’ll see the way it performs out.”
The Nets signed guard KJ Jones.
