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The Nets have been open about how important — make that vital — this season-long, seven-game homestand is. And they tipped it off in style Sunday.
Seth Curry and the Nets pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 111-97 victory over the Trail Blazers before a sellout crowd of 17,732 at Barclays Center.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were solid as usual, but it was Curry that stole the show. He had 29 points, including 13 in the pivotal final period on 3 of 5 from deep. It was his highest-scoring game as a Net, and his seven 3-pointers were tied for his most as a Net.
The Nets held Portland to 6-for-19 shooting in the fourth.
“Stuck to our principles, try to stay in front of guys,” Curry said on a postgame TV interview. “If we don’t foul, our front-side defense is pretty good.”
It was good enough Sunday, along with a game-high 31 points from Durant and 22 points, six assists and five rebounds from Irving.
The Nets (10-11) needed to win by any means necessary to begin their Brooklyn stretch.
“I’ll got back to that quintessential word: winning,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “We’ve got to win ballgames.