After plucking Joe Harris off the NBA scrap heap, the Nets have helped develop him first into an elite shooter, then a surprisingly effective driver and now a capable facilitator.
On Tuesday, he helped facilitate a 115-110 win over the Lakers.
Harris had 19 points, hit 3-of-4 from behind the arc and had Jared Dudley comparing him to one of the game’s greatest shooters.
“Joe Harris is the modern JJ Redick now,” Dudley said. “The thing about him compared to JJ is his going into the lane and finishing is one of the best on our team. Behind Spencer [Dinwiddie], I’d put him No. 2 at finishing in the paint. Joe Harris has shown he’s a starter in the league.
“You look at him, white guy, 6-4, 6-5, doesn’t look like a ballplayer. And next thing you know he’s got 16, 18 points and he’s going at you. We look for him, D’Angelo [Russell] does on pin downs and screens, I look for him. I think the sky’s the limit. People don’t really take him serious, then after he has 16, his three or four 3s then they do.”
Harris came into Tuesday’s game ranked eighth in the league in 3-point percentage (.453). No Net has cracked the top 10 since Jordan Farmar in 2011-12. Harris has averaged 18.0 points in his last three games and dished out 14 assists, 33 in his past 11 tilts.
“He’s really becoming a complete player. … He’s getting better and better,” coach Kenny Atkinson said.
Dudley had 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and made several huge plays down the stretch.
“It was the key. I know D’Angelo hit a great shot, but he’s that guy you play with at the park,” said Atkinson of Dudley.
“He’s got tattered sneakers, he’s like 42 years old, but the darn guy always stays on the floor and his teams are always winning. You want that guy when you go to the park. You want Jared Dudley on your team because the IQ is off the charts and he plays so hard. He’s been a pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting this.”
Treveon Graham (hamstring) is getting closer to making his return, but rookie first-round pick Dzanan Musa partially separated his left shoulder in Sunday’s G-League game.
Brandon Ingram (ankle), JaVale McGee (illness) and Rajon Rondo (hand) were all out for the Lakers.
In their previous three games, the Nets beat the 76ers, Wizards and Hawks while allowing each team to shoot better than 54 percent from the field. They were the first team since the 1987-88 Rockets to win three straight while allowing 54 percent or better shooting. They ended the streak Tuesday by holding the Lakers to 48.4 percent shooting.