The Nets have surprised the NBA this season, coming out of the All-Star break with a 30-29 record and a playoff spot currently in hand. Whether through the excellence of individuals or the team, the Nets have enjoyed plenty of moments that have helped define their strong start to the season.
We tried to whittle it down to just 10 plays, games and moments that stand out when discussing Brooklyn's season so far. Here are Nos. 10-6:
10. Jarrett Allen blocks LeBron James
In his rookie season, Jarrett Allen was an unqualified success as the Nets hit on another late-first round selection. In Year Two, he's been a highlight reel of blocks. The players who have tried to posterize the 20-year-old center and failed are a who's who of the NBA, with Allen blossoming into one of the league's premier rim protectors.
James Harden, Blake Griffin and Giannis have all tried to test Allen at the rim and failed. After taking an L from Anthony Davis early in the season, Brooklyn's center got revenge. Allen lets his game do the talking when it comes to his reputation.
But his biggest block this year was against LeBron James. The 16-year NBA veteran and superstar simply doesn't get blocked when he goes for dunks. It's happened less than 10 times in his entire career. Well, Allen wasn't afraid of a potential poster dunk and stood up James in front of a thrilled Barclays Center crowd.
That ultimately was the dunk that put the league on notice. It made any subsequent block by Allen or poster dunk on him a top highlight online and on SportsCenter. Allen came at the king, and he did not miss.
9. Dinwiddie serves revenge vs. Detroit
Spencer Dinwiddie was a second-round pick by the Pistons and subsequently toiled in the G-League for most of his early career before he was traded to Chicago. Nearly out of the NBA, he latched on with the Nets, and the rest is history.
On Halloween, Dinwiddie got his latest opportunity to get revenge on Detroit. The 6-foot-6 guard beat the Pistons with a game-winning shot last season and was able to do the same in even more dramatic fashion this year.
First, the former Piston tied the game with a 3-pointer with just 21 seconds left in regulation. After a back-and-forth overtime period, he got the ball in transition with the Nets down two, got the hulking Andre Drummond on him and went to work.
That step-back three displayed Dinwiddie's confidence for all to see, and after a Blake Griffin miss on the other end, it proved to be the game-winner.
8. Beating the Raptors ends skid, starts streak
From November to early December, the Nets lost eight straight games, falling to 8-18. Caris LeVert was injured and the team was in free fall, prompting a players-only meeting. The season seemed moribund.
After blowing a 23-point lead to the Thunder, Brooklyn hosted the red-hot Raptors, who came in with the East's best record. The Nets held a lead late in the fourth quarter but couldn't hold off Toronto and went to overtime.
In the extra session, D'Angelo Russell scored the Nets' first six points while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played tough defense on Kawhi Leonard. Jarrett Allen hit a go-ahead layup with 64 seconds to go and Brooklyn clamped down on the other end to finish their skid. The young squad went on to win six more in a row for an impressive winning streak that turned around its season.
7. Nets hold off Harden in record-setting game
There's high-volume 3-point shooting, and there's what the Nets and Rockets did on Jan. 16. The two teams combined for a record 106 3-point attempts in a 145-142 overtime win for Brooklyn in Houston.
The game was wild. Wild!
James Harden casually dropped 58 points to guide his injury-addled roster towards what appeared to be an easy win after the Rockets lifted off for 40 points in the third quarter. However, the Nets tied them with a 46-point fourth as Spencer Dinwiddie hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the final minute.
In overtime, the Nets quickly fell to a seven-point deficit. Down four in the final minute, Jarrett Allen hit a clutch layup in traffic before Dinwiddie put Brooklyn ahead with a basket and the foul. That was enough for a statement victory.
6. Triple overtime
This happened just last week, but it was worth putting on this list. The Nets have played into overtime a lot this year, and it seems like every game comes down to the final minute. This one took it to another level.
Brooklyn and Cleveland exchanged baskets in the fourth quarter, with D'Angelo Russell knotting things with 61 seconds left. LeVert couldn't connect on a winning jumper, forcing the first overtime.
In OT, Russell put Brooklyn up with two free throws, but Collin Sexton responded with a tying-layup. Cleveland had the advantage for much of the second overtime until DeMarre Carroll hit a step-back three-pointer to tie the score at the buzzer.
From there, Russell took over, scoring 14 points in the third overtime. The All-Star guard struggled in regulation but finished with 36 points to give the Nets a big win before the break.
