Early Returns: Rookie Taylor shines in injured Williams’ absence as Nets top Pacers
With $100 million point guard Deron Williams sidelined until after the All-Star break due to a pair of swollen ankles, and backup C.J. Watson enduring a dreadful shooting night during a rare start, Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo was forced to turn to rookie Tyshawn Taylor in the hopes of giving his suddenly struggling team a lift Monday night in Indiana.
The Jersey native did Brooklyn and his interim coach proud, scoring a career-high 12 points while lifting the Nets to a much-needed 89-84 overtime victory over the Pacers before a crowd of 11,672 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“I played a lot of minutes tonight. I’m tired,” confessed Taylor, who logged nearly 35 minutes off the bench, including the entire fourth quarter and overtime, to help Brooklyn end a slide of six losses in its previous nine contests.