VIDEO – Mirza Teletovic puts on a show in Brooklyn

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Last night at Barclays Center the crowd was treated to a European show with Mirza Teletovic putting on a shooting clinic in the second quarter that helped the Brooklyn Nets beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-106 for their ninth win in their last last ten games.

Teletovic had 24 of his career-high 34 points in the second quarter and it was a thing of beauty to watch the jumpers raining from all over the court.  The Nets were struggling to hit shots in the first quarter and the sharp-shooter came off the bench to electrify the crowd in the second to help Brooklyn regain momentum and a 57-46 halftime lead that they would never relinquish.

The Bosnian sensation ended up hitting a career-high seven 3-pointers for the game, going 9-for-11 from the field in the second quarter alone and 6-for-7 from beyond the arc.  Mirza’s 34 points last night are also the most points scored by a non-starter in the NBA this season (via Elias).

[quote_box]“I think it’s very important to know that all of the guys, when they saw I made the first two shots, you know, everybody was just like ‘give him the ball,'” Teletovic said to the media after the game. “When you have teammates like that and they just create space for you, you know, it’s easy.”[/quote_box]

The Nets knew he was pure shooter when they went out and got him last season but getting out of the doghouse with ex-coaches Avery Johnson and PJ Carlesimo was difficult for him to deal with.  He has gotten a new lease on life under new coach Jason Kidd and everyone is now seeing that he is much more than a 3-point specialist and he has a great all-around game.

The best part about the current situation in Brooklyn for him is that his teammates know he can fill it up and are always looking for him to change a game and get hot.  Last night was a prime example of that with the show he put on in the second quarter.

[quote_box]“I think that’s why they brought me here, and I’m just glad that I can bring it,” Teletovic said. “I’m trying to bring it like that every night, and it’s very important when I’m in the game to stretch the floor and I think I’m doing a pretty good job of that right now.”[/quote_box]

The European star probably hit the most important basket of the night, not a 3-pointer, as well when he hit a running bank shot in the final minute to help the Nets keep the Mavericks at bay for the win.

Teletovic said he would be open to competing in the 3-point Shootout during the All-Star break and there is no reason at all that he should not play in the Rookie-Sophomore game as well but we will all have to wait and see what the NBA decides.