BOSTON — After spending two weeks on the sidelines, Tyshawn Taylor finally made his NBA debut last night against the Celtics.
It was worth the wait. Taylor impressed in the Nets’ 97-96 victory, finishing with six points and five assists in 18 minutes while providing a big spark off the bench.
“It felt amazing being out there,” a beaming Taylor said afterward.
Taylor had sat out of the first two preseason games — and much of the first two weeks of training camp — after straining his right quad during track workouts the week before camp opened. But he returned to practice Thursday, progressed through the weekend and was deemed ready to play last night by coach Avery Johnson in a game in which the Nets rested all of their starters.
“Ty gave us some minutes,” Johnson said. “He broke down the defense, made some nice passes, got inside of their defense.”
The Nets had looked sluggish on offense before Taylor checked into the game midway through the first quarter. But once he did, things improved quickly. He picked up his first pro assist with a nice drive and dish to Andray Blatche, who converted an and-one layup, and then scored his first bucket over future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, driving to his right and banking it in over Garnett’s outstretched arm.
Later, Taylor stole the ball from Rajon Rondo, brought the ball down the court and hit a cutting Mirza Teletovic for another score.
“I felt like I was effective at both ends of the floor in the minutes I played,” Taylor said. “I’m just happy to be out there. I tried not to be too nervous, and let the game come to me, and I felt I did a pretty good job of that.”
Taylor also said there were no complications with his strained quad.
“I feel good,” he said. “It’s a little tighter than the other leg, but it’s just tight.”
* Last night’s game was followed on NBA TV by the debut episode of “The Association,” the NBA’s year-long reality show that will follow the Nets throughout their first season in Brooklyn.
Johnson said he hadn’t had a chance to see the episode yet, but that fans will enjoy getting a chance to see the inner workings of the franchise as it heads to Brooklyn.
“I think it will be a good behind-the-scenes look at what we do,” Johnson said. “Other franchises like the Celtics and the Lakers have been on, and if it’s good for them, it’s good for us.”