This was the aggressiveness that Jordi Fernandez wanted. That Ben Simmons had lacked.
That the Nets needed for their offense to click and inch closer to its potential, especially with leading scorer Cam Thomas out of the lineup with lower back tightness.
After Simmons checked back into the game in the fourth quarter, he snagged possession and converted a basket after Jalen Wilson had his shot blocked.
Then, Shake Milton lobbed an alley-oop to Simmons on the Nets’ next sequence.
The four-point advantage those makes gave the Nets was a temporary one — with their 116-115 NBA Cup win over the Hornets on Tuesday at Barclays Center not decided until Brandon Miller’s last-second heave fell short.
But it capped Simmons’ 10-point, eight-rebound, five-assist night, with the five baskets marking his season high.
“He was big-time tonight,” Trendon Watford said.
Simmons entered the night averaging a career-low 5.3 points per game — far below his peak of 16.9 with the 76ers in 2018-19 — and had been relegated to the bench, before Nic Claxton missed the last three games and Simmons started as an out-of-position center.
Fernandez was encouraged by the physicality Simmons showed during a brief scuffle between the teams in the third quarter.
After Simmons leveled Josh Green while faking a handoff and setting a screen, Miller shoved Simmons, which prompted a cluster of players to gather as coaches came over before the situation worsened.
Simmons and Miller both received technical fouls.
By that point, Simmons had already collected six of his points.
Then, with his baskets later in the half, he completed the type of game Fernandez has expected him to repeat over and over again.
That’s what the first-year head coach has been waiting for from the polarizing star he inherited.
“I think Ben was a huge part of this win,” Fernandez said, “and I really liked how he played, how engaged he was, his communication at all times. It’s just great to see him play like this.”
Fernandez said the Nets were trying to foul up three with 5 seconds left when the Hornets inbounded the ball, but he also trusted his players to make their own decision in the moment — and only foul if they felt comfortable.”
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“At the end of the day, they gotta own it,” Fernandez said. “They’re the ones playing. I’m not out there. Because a lot of times, when you’re trying to foul, I’ve seen it so many times: You give an and-one and you foul a 3-point shot or you foul before the ball’s inbounded because guys are nervous. It’s like, ‘These are our rules. You do it only if you feel comfortable with the situation.’ ”
Watford, in just his second game back from a hamstring injury that cost him the first 12 games of the season, finished with 10 points in 19 minutes. … The Nets hosted their first game of this year’s NBA Cup, and Fernandez said he’s a fan of the format and the new-look Barclays Center court. … Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) and Ziaire Williams (right hip tightness) were available after being on the injury report. … Wilson made his first start of the season in place of Thomas.
