No Kyrie Irving? No problem -- for Wednesday, at least.
The Nets missed their star point guard for the third straight game, but unlike the past two losses, the collective effort from both ends of the floor picked up the pace as Brooklyn outlasted the Charlotte Hornets 101-91 at Barclays Center in New York.
Center Jarrett Allen's monster double-double on 22 points and 17 rebounds dominated the box score, but 20 points apiece from Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince told the story of how the Nets (6-8) beat the Hornets (6-9).
"Obviously, we're missing three of our best players," said center DeAndre Jordan, who referenced the absence of Irving (right shoulder impingement) with shooting guard Caris LeVert (right thumb sprain/surgery) and wing Kevin Durant (right Achilles tear/rehab). "Any team would say that sucks, but it gives other guys opportunities, like (wing) David Nwaba, (shooting guard Dzanan) Musa, (forward) Rodi(ons Kurucs), (wing Garrett) Temp(le), myself, (small forward) Theo (Pinson), (shooting guard Iman) Shump(ert). So whenever we do get our full roster back, we will be even better because those guys have experience and are able to jell. It just makes us a better team once when we get everybody back."
Jordan added 14 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. He went a perfect 5 for 5 from the field and made all four of his free throws.
From the starters to the bench, fourth-year head coach Kenny Atkinson came away pleased with how the Nets came together, but he still wants his offense without Irving and LeVert to have better rhythm.
"I thought it was a solid four quarters," Atkinson said. "Didn't have the big lapses. I thought our defense was outstanding. Offensively, we're going to have to find something there where we're just really struggling -- I think it's five, six, seven games now. So I could tell you we got some shots, but like we talked pregame, we've got to find a way to generate offense, although I thought T.P., Taurean, was really good and Jarrett Allen -- they helped us. Until our perimeters start knocking down shots -- which they will -- we need those big guys to help us."
In the meantime, Prince led the charge from long range with four triples to pace the Nets, who went 10 for 39 (25.6 percent).
"I've been up and down, and that's just not myself," Prince said. "So it's just holding myself to that high standard and continuing to be aware and continuing to just do what I do, and stay consistent off the court and keep doing what I'm supposed to do as far as working out and getting my body work done and then just believing in the game."