HOUSTON — After taking only one shot in the Nets’ win Tuesday at Toronto, Mirza Teletovic insisted his play against the Raptors proved he is more than just a shooter. But in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, Teletovic showed he still knows how to shoot the ball, as well.
Teletovic scored a career-high 17 points — including 14 in the fourth quarter — while hitting four 3-pointers in the Nets’ 99-94 loss to the Lakers, helping them come all the way back from a 27-point first-half deficit, and likely giving himself another shot to be part of coach Jason Kidd’s rotation when the Nets visit the Rockets on Friday night.
“I don’t think people really know about how physical I am, but I can really do more things than just shoot 3-pointers,” Teletovic said after Wednesday’s game. “This is what we need, and this is what I try to bring every night as much as I can.”
Teletovic has given the Nets an unexpected jolt of energy off the pine each of the past two games, as Kidd has largely opted to play the Bosnian power forward over Reggie Evans and has been rewarded for his decision. Teletovic is far more skilled offensively than Evans, especially when it comes to his 3-point shooting ability, but has also shown an ability to defend and grab some rebounds, as well, picking up five boards against both the Raptors and Lakers.
He also sent the crowd — and the Nets’ bench — into a frenzy midway through the fourth quarter. After Wes Johnson scooped up a loose ball following Kevin Garnett’s block of Pau Gasol’s jumper and looked destined to lay the ball in the basket, Teletovic swooped in, emphatically blocked the shot and collected the loose ball.
“He was great offensively and defensively,” Kidd said. “Not just his shooting, but his defense, rebounding, blocking shots, doing the little things. On the offensive and defensive ends, he definitely picked us up.”
Teletovic has spent the first month of the season mostly watching from the bench while the Nets have struggled.
Teletovic was part of a fourth-quarter group that impressed Kidd in a blowout loss at Minnesota on Nov. 22, and of the Nets’ fourth-quarter push in Sunday’s loss to the Pistons in Brooklyn. After that, Kidd opted to bench Evans Tuesday in Toronto and play Teletovic for 21 minutes. He did so again Wednesday against the Lakers.
“Sometimes it is tough to be positive, but I really am. I try every game when I get in the game, just to bring a lot of energy,” Teletovic said. “I just [try] to give everybody energy and just playing hard, and I think that’s what we need.”