Paul Pierce did not speak to the media after Monday’s game against the Pacers nor following the Nets’ practice on Tuesday, but the veteran forward had to answer for his clothesline on Indiana’s George Hill in the 103-86 home loss to Indiana.
Pierce, who was given a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected after “making excessive and unnecessary contact” with Hill on a fast break in the third quarter, was fined $15,000 by the league.
Pierce hit Hill in the face and knocked him down by wrapping his left arm around Hill’s neck, never coming close to making contact with the ball. The 10-time All-Star left the game having missed all seven field goal attempts and was held scoreless for the first time since March 9, 1999 — the 16th game of his rookie season.
Andrei Kirilenko is confident he can help the Nets’ defensive issues, but he isn’t sure whether he’ll be able to contribute in Wednesday’s game against the Bulls.
Kirilenko has mostly been a bystander in his first season with the Nets, missing 22 games due to back spasms, but the 32-year-old’s return appears imminent. Following Tuesday’s practice, Kirilenko said he felt great, but trainer Tim Walsh will determine before the game whether Kirilenko will see his first action since Nov. 8.
“I will insist and insist, but [Walsh] is the guy that’s gonna decide it,” Kirilenko said.
In his previous 18 seasons, Kevin Garnett never shot below 46 percent from the field and never failed to average double-digit points. This season, playing a career-low 22 minutes per game, Garnett is averaging a career-worst 6.7 points while shooting 37.5 percent from the field.
The former MVP said his struggles aren’t struggles, just the result of a limited role he accepted upon coming to Brooklyn.
“Well, what you have to understand is I’m not a primary here, nor coming here did I [expect] me being that,” Garnett said. “I don’t have plays called for me. I’d like to say that at the end of the day, I hang my hat on the defensive end. My mentality is more of a help, that’s first.
“Everything is about winning. This is the first time I’ve been in a situation where I haven’t had plays or been a primary, and that’s OK. I came here with that understanding. My attitude was to come help and assist, and help this team grow the young bones in which they had.”