NBA Notes: Nets, Michael Porter Jr., Knicks, Tyler Kolek, Heat

Nets

Michael Porter Jr. has been brilliant. The trick now is making sure the Nets use that brilliance correctly, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Porter is in the middle of a career year and ranks among the league leaders in scoring, but coach Jordi Fernández said Brooklyn leaned too heavily on him late in Friday’s loss to Dallas instead of using the attention he draws to create easier looks elsewhere.

“We kept looking at Mike instead of using him,” Fernández said. “You can control if you take a good shot. You can’t control if it goes in.”

Porter became the first forward in NBA history with four straight games of at least 30 points and five three-pointers, and the Nets are 6-2 when he scores 32 or more. They are winless in his other appearances. As teams load up defensively, Brooklyn’s next step is obvious.

“We’ve just got to make the right reads,” Porter said. “Especially late.”

Knicks

Tyler Kolek picked the right night to make a statement.

With Miles McBride sidelined by an ankle injury, Kolek delivered his best game as a pro during the Knicks’ NBA Cup semifinal win over Orlando, finishing a team-best plus-17. New York was at its best with him on the floor, as relayed by Jared Schwartz and Stefan Bondy of the Post.

“Tyler did a fantastic job of impacting winning,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “One of his finest games as an NBA player.”

Kolek helped spark a key second-quarter run and closed the game late, something he said was new territory. For a team weighing its backup point guard options, the timing mattered.

Heat

The Heat welcomed a rare breather after dropping four straight games.

Miami spent several days regrouping, using practice time to recalibrate rather than panic, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized perspective.

“We’re just focused on getting better,” Spoelstra said. “Not getting caught up in the noise.”

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald noted that early-season shooting luck has flipped, with opponents now converting at higher rates and Miami cooling off from deep. Guard Norman Powell said teams are adjusting aggressively.

“They’re denying passing lanes,” Powell said. “We’ve got to be better collectively.”