NBA

Marcus Thornton impressing in brief stint with Nets

Marcus Thornton may not even know all of the Nets’ plays, but Brooklyn knew exactly what it was getting when the Nets traded away aging Jason Terry to get him: A young Jason Terry.

After general manager Billy King pried Thornton away from Sacramento for Terry and Reggie Evans on Feb. 19, it didn’t take long for the explosive guard to show what he can do. Now that he has become an integral part of the Nets’ bench — with 20 points in Wednesday’s win over Memphis — everybody else is seeing what King saw.

“One, he’s a young player, and we’re always trying to be younger with our roster. And I knew he had the ability to score in bunches,’’ King said Thursday on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “There are going to be certain nights where his shot may not be falling; but in a game like Milwaukee or [Wednesday] night where we’re struggling in the second quarter, he can come in and give you that spark.

“I liken him to Jason Terry when Jason Terry was his age, and … when we made the trade in moving Jason Terry, that was my thought process. Can we get a guy that can give us that spark in a game, a playoff game or a late stretch when you need a big win? He has that ability.’’

And Thornton has shown that ability since joining the Nets, especially Wednesday. After seeing the offense go stagnant and a 21-point first-quarter lead shrivel, Thornton reeled off 15 consecutive points in the second quarter, the first Nets backup to do that since Johnny Newman in 2000, according to Elias.

“It’s great. It builds confidence in you to keep going. The starters were playing great already. I was just trying to contribute, do my part,’’ said Thornton, who was 8-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-5 from behind the 3-point arc. “I feel comfortable. I still don’t know all the plays yet, but that comes with time. When you have great teammates coaching you on the floor, it’s even better.

“With guys encouraging you every possession, do what you do, it’s a very unselfish group of players so it’s fun to play with those guys. … When you just go out there and play [with] unselfish teammates that are looking for you every time out there on the court, that just makes it much easier to just go out there and play.”

After cracking the 20-point plateau three times in 46 games for Sacramento, he has already done it twice in five games for the Nets.

“That’s what we were counting on him doing,” Deron Williams said. “We knew what type of offensive player he was, what type of weapon he is. I think he’s enjoying this opportunity to play with us and we’re glad we have him.”

Coach Jason Kidd said Thornton — always known for his instant offense — has even worked on his game at the other end of the court as well.

“He’s been big for us coming off the bench,’’ said Kidd. “He’s getting great looks. He’s knocking them down, so he’s doing everything we’ve asked. He’s competing on the defensive end. We all can see what he can do offensively, but I thought the defensive end with him being able to get deflections and help side [defense], I thought that was big for us.”


Kevin Garnett has been ruled out for Friday’s game in Boston, the fourth straight game he will miss with back spasms. But King insists he isn’t worried.

“The one thing with KG — and I think we’ve done with all our guys — it’s more about getting them to the point where they’re ready for the stretch. There’s no timetable on it, just day-to-day. When he’s ready to go, he’ll be back,’’ King said.

“I don’t expect it to be a long time. But like we’ve done with [Andrei Kirilenko], Deron, when they’re out, we’ll give them as much time as possible. It’s a long season. I’d rather have him in the playoffs. I’d rather have close to 100 percent than 60. [But] I don’t expect it to be super long.’’


The Nets signed point guard Jorge Gutierrez to a 10-day contract.