NBA: Patty Mills saves Brooklyn Nets’ bacon with season-best performance
Patty Mills continues to send the basketball world into a frenzy, producing a season-best performance to save the day for a depleted Brooklyn Nets.
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Patty Mills continues to prove he’s not from this planet after a sensational performance for a severely depleted Brooklyn Nets against the Toronto Raptors.
Only eight players managed to take the court for the Nets as a number of stars missed out due to league protocols, including superstar James Harden.
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But Mills, who spent more than 43 minutes on the court in the Nets’ 131-129 victory in overtime, delivered when his team needed it most.
The Australian enjoyed a season-best scoring performance, draining seven shots from outside the arc on his way to a 30-point haul.
Arguably, the most important shot of Mills’ night came right at the end of regulation time.
With the Nets down 120-117 and the final buzzer just seconds away, Mills kicked the ball out to Blake Griffin on the left side.
Griffin dished it right back to the Australian, who found himself in acres of space in three-point territory and duly sank a game-tying shot to blow the roof off of the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn.
In overtime, the Nets found another gear in order to preserve their place at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Mills yet again stepped up to the plate in the final stanza and scored a vital bucket to extend the Nets’ lead.
He collected the ball from Griffin once again, this time on the right side.
A quick burst of acceleration from Mills past his defender got himself the space he needed as the Canberra native nailed a gorgeous fadeaway that fired him up.
Nets superstar Kevin Durant also played a starring role for the home team as he earnt yet another triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in the eye-watering 48 minutes he spent on the hardwood.
How many players have career years in their 13th NBA season? Patty Mills is such a fun player. Perennially underrated.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 15, 2021
Patty Mills is just built for the moment. There's no other way to say it.
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) December 15, 2021
Patty Mills has been the best shooter in the NBA this season. I don't get why that's not said more
— Mavs / Magic Draft (@MavsDraft) December 15, 2021
Patty Mills, my goodness. Free basketball.
— Oruny (@OrunyChoi) December 15, 2021
patty mills deserves another medal for this game
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) December 15, 2021
Mills was gushing with praise for his teammates, emphasising just how proud he was for the way they handled being down to the bare bones.
“It was an enormous effort from everyone to step up tonight,” Mills said post-match.
“Our young boys coming in after being away for a little bit produced some solid minutes and some solid juice for us tonight.
“Couldn’t be prouder of everyone on the floor to handle the adversity that we have here tonight.”
As for how much he relishes the big moments, Mills replied: “I love it.”
Brooklyn will hope to have some reinforcements in time for their next match against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday (AEDT).
Originally published as NBA: Patty Mills saves Brooklyn Nets’ bacon with season-best performance
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