Brook and Thaddeus: Double Trouble: Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young each posted double-doubles on Wednesday, hitting season-highs in points and rebounds in the process. Lopez’s double-double (27 points with 11 rebounds) was his second in three games, while Young dropped 14 points with 10 boards. Bojan Bogdanovic also hit double digits for the third straight game, scoring 12 points (5-for-11).
Vs. The Lakers: The Nets are going for their third straight win over the Lakers after sweeping the season series between the two teams for the first time since 2005-06 season. Brook Lopez had 30 points and 11 rebounds in the Nets’ 107-99 win over the Lakers in March, a win that vaulted the Nets into eighth place. The Nets are 3-3 against the Lakers since relocating to Brooklyn. Friday’s game is also Stars and Stripes Night, as the Nets honor the United States military.
Lakers: The Lakers are off to an 0-4 start this season, most recently falling to the Denver Nuggets 120-109 on Tuesday night. The Lakers have been able to score, racking up 106.8 points-per-game (4th in the NBA), but are allowing a league-worst 116.8. Jordan Clarkson leads the team with 18.2 points-per-game and is coming off a 30-point effort against the Nuggets, which tied his career-high.
Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant is in the final year of his contract with the Lakers and it’s unclear whether the 37-year-old, future Hall-of-Famer is going to retire at the end of the year. If he does, Friday would mark his final regular-season trip to Barclays Center. Bryant is averaging 15 points in the Lakers’ first four games this season.
