The Nets pride themselves on being a deep team. But their bench got roughed up in Wednesday’s opening loss to the Timberwolves.
Five reserves finished an aggregate minus-63 in the 127-126 overtime defeat, while Minnesota’s bench was a plus-55. And when Kyrie Irving went out in the first half, the Nets immediately allowed a 25-9 run.
That’s a trend they will need to turn around Friday versus the Knicks.
“We can’t play [Irving] 48 minutes. Our bench is going to have to pick it up. If you take the Toronto game [the final preseason contest] that’s two games in a row,” coach Kenny Atkinson said.