D’Angelo Russell and the Brooklyn Nets have improved their winning streak to six games by defeating LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA’s longest winning streak belongs to the Brooklyn Nets.
Behind a career-game from point guard D’Angelo Russell, they shocked the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center.
Despite LeBron James monstrous 36-13-8 line, Brooklyn hung on late to put away Los Angeles, 115-110. It made for the first six-game winning streak since March of 2015, coincidentally, the last time the Nets reached the postseason.
It was Russell’s night against his former team. He hit the dagger three-pointer, and brought back his famous ‘ice in my veins’ celebration with just 29 seconds to go:
.@Dloading iced the Lakers ❄️ pic.twitter.com/dwmZDHlyd7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2018
Russell finished with 22 points, and 13 assists (tied with his career-high) on the night. It’s just the fourth 20-10 game of his career, and his second this season.
Backup point guard Spencer Dinwiddie played a huge role as well, adding 18 points and 6 assists off the bench.
Can't catch @SDinwiddie_25! pic.twitter.com/wRhMp4lpT2
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 19, 2018
But it was Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who kept the Nets lead at double digits down the stretch at the free-throw line. He finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Guard Joe Harris had a game as well with 19 points, including this no-look crunch-time basket.
? Joey doesn't get the buckets, the buckets come to Joey pic.twitter.com/r3DbDABqhj
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 19, 2018
After a shoddy performance defensively against the lowly Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn vamped it up against the Lakers. The Nets held Los Angeles to just 13-40 (32.5%) from beyond-the-arc.
And sophomore center Jarrett Allen had two monster blocks over James, and fellow sophomore Kyle Kuzma.
THIS IS @_bigjayy_'s HOUSE ✋ pic.twitter.com/CWoC1bUkSH
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 19, 2018
FRO WORKIN' pic.twitter.com/jaMIWcTWbe
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 19, 2018
The win over Los Angeles will set the Nets just one game back of the Eastern Conference eighth seed. Injured Caris LeVert didn’t leave a playoff team, but he may return to one.
Brooklyn will look to extend their streak to seven games Wednesday night against the 7-24 Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is at 8:00 p.m. ET.
