Nets get a big night from Patty Mills beyond the arc

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, goes against Nets guard Patty... — Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, goes against Nets guard Patty Mills, left, during the second half of an NBA game on Sunday in Oklahoma City. Credit: AP/Garett Fisbeck

By Greg LoganGregory.Logan@newsday.com GregLogan1November 14, 2021

With Kyrie Irving on the shelf because he has not complied with the New York City vaccine mandate and is not eligible for all games, the Nets have found themselves searching for a third top scorer on a game-to-game basis to relieve the burden on superstars Kevin Durant and James Harden.

They might have found what they needed in Patty Mills, who came off the bench Sunday to score a career-high 29 points, including 9-for-12 from three-point range, to help the Nets to a 120-96 victory over the Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

"He got hot, made some great threes, some big threes," Nets coach Steve Nash said. "Gave our offense a little extra boost and some life."

Prior to facing the Thunder, Nash fielded questions about the recent three-point shooting ups and downs of Joe Harris (hot), Mills (average) and Blake Griffin (ice cold). Harris, who led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage two of the past three seasons, shot a chilly 31.7% through an early five-game stretch, but he has hit an incredible 59.5% (25-for-42) over the past eight.

However, he suffered a sprained ankle in the second quarter against the Thunder and did not return. Nash said the Nets will assess it on Monday.

As for Mills, he made his first 10 straight three-point shots in the first two games but regressed to a pedestrian 32.7% over the next 11, including eight games with one make or less. But he was on fire against the Thunder.

"Whenever you get the chance to shoot open shots, that’s always better," Mills said of the spacing afforded alongside Durant and Harden. "Tonight was one of those things where we played how the defense was playing it, and we were able to get the ball to touch the paint and kick it out, which led to open shots."

Unfortunately for Griffin, who made 38.3% of his threes last season, he missed his two threes and is shooting a miserable 18%, including 0-for-16 the past four games.