Any trepidation Kenny Atkinson once had about using Rodions Kurucs at power forward should now be gone.
The Latvian rookie enjoyed another eye-opening performance game on Monday, besting All-Star Blake Griffin at both ends of the court and sparking the Nets to their fourth straight win since he rejoined the starting lineup, 103-75 over the Pistons at Barclays Center.
Kurucs scored all 13 of his points on 6-for-6 shooting in the first half, while helping to hold Griffin to a 1-for-10 night at the other end. Kurucs also enlivened the Brooklyn crowd with three uncontested dunks off of steals in the defensive zone.