In his short time with the Brooklyn Nets, D’Angelo Russell gave Nets fans countless memories. However, five stood apart from the rest.
With the trading of D’Angelo Russell to the Golden State Warriors, the Brooklyn Nets chapter of his career ends, at least for now.
Nevertheless, Russell provided the Nets and their fans with a ton of great memories in his short stint with the team, including the following five standout performances.
5) Russell with another 20-point quarter — March 30, 2019
Following an arduous and taxing seven-game road trip, the Nets returned home to Brooklyn and Russell gave the fans a show. As the season entered its final weeks, every game seemed like a must-win.
Early on it looked like the Nets were still feeling the effects of the road trip. The team scored only 17 first-quarter points and Russell scored four points on 2-for-9 shooting in the first half. However, a switch was flipped at halftime and D-Loading came out firing. He dropped 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field.
The Boston Celtics, as a whole, only scored 22 in the third quarter as the Nets, behind Russell’s offensive surge, outscored them 33-22. It was his second 20-plus point quarter within a five-game stretch. The other one was his 27-point quarter against the Kings.
Everyone’s having fun in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/49nmfkaNcy
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) March 30, 2019
4) Russell scores 40 on his birthday — Feb. 23, 2019
Everyone loves to show out on their birthday and it was clear D-Lo is no exception. The irony of it is that Russell turned 23 (Jordan year) and balled out against Michael Jordan‘s team, the Hornets.
After a 24-4 run by Charlotte, the Nets found themselves down by six with fewer than three minutes left in the game. Then it was time for Russell to take over. He scored the final 12 points for Brooklyn as the team ended the game on a 10-2 run.
They won 117-115 after Caris LeVert blocked Kemba Walker as time expired. Russell racked up seven assists and two steals in the win as well. The win was big for the Nets at the time. They had lost seven of their last 10 games and the victory kept them in sixth place.
When the game was on the line, @Dloading took matters into his own hands.
A career-high-tying 4️⃣0️⃣ points for DLo on his 23rd birthday ?? pic.twitter.com/FDYmpzURXf
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 24, 2019
3) Russell’s Revenge Game — Dec. 18, 2018
Although it wasn’t his first game against his former squad, it certainly was his most memorable to date. This is regarded as Russell’s true revenge game against the team that couldn’t get rid of him quick enough.
The energy in the building was electric as it was LeBron James’ first game in Brooklyn as a Laker. At first, it looked like Jarrett Allen had the play of the game when he blocked LeBron’s dunk. However, the night belonged to Russell as he stepped up late in the game.
Russell hit a dagger three with fewer than 30 seconds left. And how fitting that he hit it over Kyle Kuzma and then proceeded to do his “Ice in My Veins” celebration.
Russell finished the game with 22 points and a career-tying 13 assists. It was the Nets sixth straight win which came after losing eight straight earlier in the year. It was also the first time Brooklyn had won six straight since 2014-2015.
D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer against the Lakers give the Nets a 6-point lead. pic.twitter.com/tXpvKVZSLb
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) December 19, 2018
2) D-Lo drops 40 in a comeback win against Orlando — Jan. 18, 2019 (1/18/19)
Being the savior for the Nets was something of a trend for D-Lo last season. Coming off a tremendous comeback win against the Houston Rockets the previous game, Brooklyn found themselves down by as many as 21 in the second half. That’s when it was time for Russell to shine. D’Angelo completely took over and finished the game with 40 points (tying his career high at the time) on 16-for-25 shooting including 8-for-12 from three-point range.
What’s even more impressive is he shot no free throws in the game. His performance was capped off with a three-pointer with fewer than 30 seconds left, which he promptly celebrated with his signature “Ice In My Veins” gesture. The comeback, at the time, was the Nets largest since 2011. It also put the Nets over .500 which was the first time the team was over .500 in the month of January since the 2012-2013 season.
PART 2: @Dloading pic.twitter.com/cNekDZKSGq
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 19, 2019
1) Russell scores 27 in a fourth-quarter comeback against the Kings — March 19, 2019
In a season filled with breakout and signature moments for Russell, this one was the cream of the crop. The Nets had been getting blown out for the majority of the game and entered the fourth quarter down 25 points.
With the west coast tip-off, it’s hard to fault any Nets fans for turning the game off early. However, Russell led the Nets to easily the greatest comeback in franchise history. What made it even more impressive is that Russell did it with reserve players on the floor with him.
It seemed as though everything Russell put up in the quarter was going in. Shots from beyond the arc? Water. Drives to the hole? Money. He had a stretch in the fourth where he scored 10 of the Nets last 12 points, and another stretch where he scored 16 straight.
The amazing comeback was capped off by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson‘s game-winning layup. This game above all other on the year showed exactly why D-Lo is an all-star caliber player.
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