When coach Lionel Hollins was asked Sunday how he planned to wring better production out of his struggling bench, he replied: “Just hope they play better.”
Brooklyn’s backups did just that in a 111-101 win over Boston, with Shane Larkin and Andrea Bargnani leading the way.
Now the challenge is to do it again. And again.
“That’s what our jobs are, to come in and provide a spark off the bench, push the ball,’’ said Larkin. “I just come play with energy, push the ball, do whatever we can to maintain the lead or push it a little higher.