Though Summer League wins don’t define a season, no team wants an 0-3 start, yet Steve Hetzel’s Nets hit that skid after a 97-93 loss to the Knicks on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Not the ideal start for the Nets’ historic five-rookie class, with Drake Powell out due to a minor pre-draft knee injury.
Facing the front end of a back-to-back, Brooklyn rested Egor Demin and Danny Wolf, while Tosan Evbuomwan (hip contusion) and Tyson Etienne (illness) were also out, leaving an already reeling squad shorthanded.
Drew Timme paced the Nets with 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, but Tyler Kolek and MarJon Beauchamp’s combined 50 points powered the Knicks, overwhelming Brooklyn’s offense.
The contest saw 10 ties and 10 lead changes through the initial 28 minutes, with no team ahead by more than five points. Late in the third quarter, the Knicks ignited a 7-0 spurt, outpacing the Nets 28-21 to seize control. They extended their lead to as many as 13 points and held firm for the last 15 minutes.
Nolan Traoré, limited to two points and two assists in 19 minutes, and Ben Saraf, with 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting in 30 minutes, will miss Wednesday’s Summer League finale for scheduled rest against the Orlando Magic, ending their run in Vegas. Demin and Wolf will be available.
Traoré averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 turnovers on 30.4% shooting in 22.8 minutes per game, while Saraf mirrored those stats, posting 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.7 turnovers on 30.4% shooting in 22.9 minutes per game.
Though neither rookie guard shot efficiently, both displayed a knack for attacking the rim, Traoré using elite speed and Saraf with a crafty, deliberate style. Both must improve their long-range shooting and confidence in taking those shots to thrive in the NBA, as Traoré hit just 14.2% from deep (1-for-7) and Saraf went 0-for-4 from 3.
“I think the process will be important to follow how everything unfolds,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez told reporters in Vegas. “But, having a primary ball handler and then guys that can play second side pick-and-roll or make decisions is important. We have a group of young guys that have really high IQ and they’re really good playmakers.”
