‘Champion’ Patty Mills turns it on in thrilling Brooklyn Nets win

Aussie Patty Mills has again shown why he’s one of the recruits of the season with another outstanding display for the Brooklyn Nets.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Patty Mills #8 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on November 03, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Patty Mills once again proved he is worth his weight in gold to the Brooklyn Nets as he makes a charge for a second NBA championship.

With Kevin Durant out nursing a sore shoulder, the Aussie was given a rare start for the Nets and played a crucial role in their 115-113 comeback win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday (AEDT).

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Orlando has one of the worst win-loss records in the NBA and it would have been a major embarrassment if Brooklyn lost to the lowly Magic.

The Nets were given a scare though and at one stage in the second quarter trailed by 19 points.

But Brooklyn shifted in to gear, largely thanks to James Harden, who had a game-high 36 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Mills was the next highest-scorer for the Nets, racking up 22 points, including four three-pointers.

The 33-year-old continued his rich vein of form, shooting 69 per cent from the field and nailing two threes in a row in the third quarter to give Brooklyn the lead.

It was Mills’ fifth 20-point game of the season and was just the third time in his career he as scored 20 points or more in consecutive games.

Harden led the Nets despite connecting on just seven of 15 shots from the field — three of 13 from beyond the arc.

Patty Mills continued his hot streak against the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

He made 19 of 20 free-throws as the Nets rallied from an early 19-point deficit. Brooklyn out-scored the Magic 37-21 in the third quarter to take a 90-83 lead.

The Magic clawed back to lead by two early in the fourth, but a three-point play by LaMarcus Aldridge put the Nets back in front for good with six minutes remaining.

Brooklyn moves to a record of 12-5 which sees them jump to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

NBA fans were once again in awe of Mills’ shooting effiency that helped the Nets get back in the game.

📼 | Good on ya, @Patty_Millspic.twitter.com/3dIR4zcN5g

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 20, 2021

Patty Mills goin crazy

— Rob Markman 💭 (@RobMarkman) November 20, 2021

Patty Mills playing like this isn’t the NBA

— Josh Eberley🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) November 20, 2021

Teammate Joe Johnson, who scored 17 points off the bench, was full of praise for Mills.

“He’s a champion on and off the court,” Johnson said after the game.

Mills, who won an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, said the “good energy” the Nets showed on defence in the second half was exactly what they need to do consistently to have a chance to win this season’s championship.

“We were just able to feed off some good energy and it started on the defensive end,” he told reporters after the game.

“It is easier to say but I think in that second half we were able to get stops, get deflections and run down the other end like it was going downhill and just gain some momentum.

“It was infectious throughout the whole group.”

“We’re showing good signs here and there of the quality of defence that we can produce and we can play.

“I think as we go down this road and we start to get better as a group, it’s (a question of), ‘How can we do that for more of the 48 minutes?’.

But the potential is there. We can see it, we’ve done it, we can show it but (it’s just about) improving on those small things.”

Originally published as ‘Champion’ Patty Mills turns it on in thrilling Brooklyn Nets win