Rodions Kurucs benched despite winning record he brings to Nets

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Rodions KurucsThe Nets’ Rising Star got a seat on the pine.

After being injured in his last game before participating in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend, Rodions Kurucs sat for Thursday’s 113-99 loss to the Trail Blazers.

Considering the Nets are 24-17 when Kurucs plays and a gaudy 18-11 when he starts, but now are just 6-13 when he doesn’t get on the court, his absence was conspicuous — and more than a little curious.

“Keeping the rotation, keeping it … at 10,” coach Kenny Atkinson said by way of explaining his reason for benching the rookie. “And I said it’s going to be game to game. We’re going to have to figure this out by committee. There’s tough decisions…