And in the end, the Nets won. Kenny Atkinson, in what appeared to be some tough love teaching moment, benched D’Angelo Russell midway through the first quarter, creating some controversy. Then, the Nets played some of their most physical ball of the season, took the Heat in overtime and won.
Three Nets, all 24 or younger, supplied double-doubles: Caris LeVert, 19 points and 12 rebounds; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 20 points and 14 rebounds; and Spencer Dinwiddie, 12 points and 12 assists. The team’s youngest player, still three weeks away from his 20th birthday, had 12 points, three rebounds and two picturesque blocks.