The Nets desperately needed some inspiration as the season wore on.
Lonnie Walker IV offers one and insists on watching more minutes while so many around him struggle.
Walker, in his third game back from a hamstring injury, hit 8-of-12 shots (5-of-3 from 3-point range) in 25 minutes off the bench during the Nets' 111-102 loss. He scored 20 points (including 4 successful hits). The Cavaliers play in Paris on Thursday.
The Nets had a disastrous first half, trailing by 20 points at halftime, but Walker got more minutes in the second half and was instrumental in a furious comeback.
The Nets got as close as seven points in the fourth quarter.
“I was ready,” Walker said after Sunday's practice. “The only difference was that I felt better in a few minutes and eventually I was able to play and get into a rhythm. It felt good. I played with confidence. Teammates It gave me confidence and my teammates and coaches let me play because they knew I had a shot.
“Especially in a game like that, when you start getting your tails clattered and you fight back, fight back, fight back, you use some techniques and you get to the edge. I live for games like this. It felt great to be in the middle of a fight. We lost that fight, but there's still a lot of work to be done.”
Walker, who signed a one-year deal with the Nets as a free agent, stood out from the start of the season, averaging 49 percent shooting and 46 percent from behind in 17 games before missing 15 games with the Nets. He scored 14.6 points. Injury.
The Nets started 13-10, but have lost seven of their last eight games and 12 of their last 15, dropping to 16-22 and clinging to the No. 10 seed in the East.
Perhaps Walker can help the Nets look more like they were earlier this year.
Head coach Jacques Vaughn acknowledged that with Walker's return and Dayron Sharp out, “we have to make some decisions regarding rotation, lineups and playing time.”
Winger Cam Johnson finished with a season-low three points on 1-of-7 shooting, but notably sat on the bench for the entire fourth quarter in Thursday's loss in place of Walker.
“That's huge for us, [Walker’s] I felt confident and was able to get back to where I left off before the injury,” Vaughn said. “He played a high level of basketball from all three levels. We loved his attack at the rim, his ability to defend multiple positions that we needed, and his ability to make shots for us. That's the most minutes he's played since coming back, so we'll continue to monitor that.”
Walker's energy and defensive effort breathed new life into what had been an underwhelming Nets performance, but his scoring was sorely missed.
“That's what he does,” Johnson said. “He's a scorer, he's athletic, he can make things happen on the court. We knew it was coming. It inspired us to have him go out and play.” He gave us that and brought us back. It's great momentum for him and for us.”
The Nets outscored the Cavaliers by 11 points in the second half, with Walker scoring 13 of his 20 points.
Cam Thomas, who came off the bench, also led the comeback, scoring a team-high 26 points, matching Michael Bridges.
How do the Nets now replicate what they did in that second half over a full game?
“It shows that when our physical level went up, when we got better defensively, that transferred to our offense and it worked,” Walker said. “Whether it was hitting people, laying people down, shooting guns or speaking with confidence, we were all enthusiastic and I think that energy was very contagious.
“When you see us in the second half with that much grit and that much effort, it shows we have the ability to do it. Now that we know that, we can hold each other accountable.”
