Brian Lewis

Since acquiring D’Angelo Russell, the Nets had been a winless 0-6 without him. That was until Saturday and Trendon Watford’s endgame heroics.

PHILADELPHIA — D’Angelo Russell’s importance as the Nets’ leader and so-called alpha is clearest when they struggle without him. And Brooklyn will be without him for Saturday’s game in Philadelphia…

It’s been a long climb, culminating in a 10-day contract with the Nets for Killian Hayes. It’s a short-term, show-me type of deal — one he’s thankful to have.

Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t part of a wild trade deadline that saw stars such as Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, De’Aaron Fox and Brandon Ingram on the move. But could Milwaukee’s supers…

The Nets have been going through one of the league’s worst shooting funks recently. But they say the impending return of Cam Thomas will change that.

The Nets are coming out of the All-Star break, which marked the proverbial — if not literal — midway point of the season.

Maxwell Lewis was finally active again in the Nets’ finale before the break, logging a 27-second cameo near the end of a 100-96 win over the 76ers.

The Nets reached a buyout agreement with Ben Simmons. It remains to be seen exactly what the Nets will do — and his vacated minutes now suddenly are up for grabs.

Nets held onto Cam Johnson through the trade deadline. Now he’ll be their only representative at All-Star weekend, when he is in the 3-point contest.

As the trade deadline approaches, teams often get distracted. If anything, the Nets seem determined.