Nets urge Michael Porter Jr. to cut, create as forward posts 34 in win over Wizards
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Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez is pushing Michael Porter Jr. to blend scoring with playmaking, and the approach paid off Sunday night. Porter delivered 34 points, nine rebounds and seven assists—matching a season high—for the second straight game as the Nets beat the Wizards in Brooklyn, securing their second victory of the season.
“He has a plan to get better and to show things he hasn’t done before,” Fernandez said after the game. “When he finishes his cuts, doesn’t over-dribble and puts pressure on the rim, everybody benefits—and usually he benefits most.”
Porter accepted responsibility for Friday’s loss in Orlando, where he shot 1-for-6 late. The 26-year-old forward said he is still adjusting to Brooklyn’s system but believes the team’s passing big men reward his off-ball movement.
“In Denver everyone thought my cuts came only because of Nikola Jokić’s vision, but I’ve always been a cutter,” Porter explained. “Here, Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe can really pass the ball, and they’re finding me for easy buckets. I have to keep doing that.”
Rookie Saraf sprains ankle in G League
First-round pick Ben Saraf injured his ankle during a Long Island Nets game, according to a team source. The guard is undergoing evaluation, and the club expects to provide an update later today.
Lottery odds not a focus, says coach
Sunday’s matchup featured two teams near the bottom of the NBA standings, but Fernandez dismissed any concern that the victory might hurt draft positioning. “It’s about us,” he said. “It’s about the group growing together. There’s a plan for everybody to get better. If you don’t get better, you get worse.”
Demin’s minutes trimmed against Orlando
Rookie guard Egor Demin has impressed since entering the starting lineup, yet he logged only seven second-half minutes Friday. Fernandez said the reduction was tied to sticking with the unit that generated the best stretch. “It’s not just about one player,” the coach noted. “Egor played against a very physical team; those minutes are extremely valuable. But it’s about finding a group.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
