#Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen stepping up for depleted Nets

In the final tuneup before resuming their season Friday against the Magic, the Nets — who traveled to the Orlando bubble without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, Taurean Prince and Nicolas Claxton — received encouraging performances from the duo most likely to decide the length of their stay in Disney World, as Caris LeVert scored a game-high 23 points and Jarrett Allen put up 19 points and 10 rebounds in Monday’s 112-107 scrimmage loss to the Jazz.

“We got better as the games went on,” LeVert said. “I’m happy with our performance, even though we didn’t get the win. I thought we played hard and we got better.”

With the absence of the team’s top-two leaders in scoring and assists (Irving, Dinwiddie), LeVert has demonstrated the ability and desire to shoulder much of the playmaking duties. Following a 27-point outing in 22 minutes during Saturday’s scrimmage win over the Spurs, the talented and injury-plagued guard shot 11 of 22 from the field, while adding six assists.

“You saw it last season. … He was just starting to come out and be that. You saw it in the Celtics game where he scored [51 points, the week before the season was suspended],” Allen said. “So, now that he’s here, he finally has the chance to be able to lead us and he’s done a tremendous job with that.”

As the only center seeing action, Allen assumes even more responsibility.

Battling against two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, Allen recorded his third straight scrimmage double-double, shooting 9 of 12 from the field, with two blocks and two steals.

“I love the way he competed against Gobert,” LeVert said. “I think he’s coming into his own every single game and I think games like tonight really show that. He’s just gotta be consistent with it. He knows what we expect from him as a team and I think he expects the same thing from himself. I can’t wait to see him keep getting better and see where his ceiling is.”

Even against one of the league’s top teams, the Nets looked light years ahead of their troubling 99-68 loss to the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans five days earlier.

The Nets trailed nearly the entire game, and were down by as much as 16, but pulled within three behind a LeVert-led 13-0 third-quarter run. The Nets had 27 assists and just 12 turnovers, while forcing Utah into 21 giveaways.

“Overall, I think we’re still learning how to play with each other,” interim coach Jacque Vaughn said. “There’s some stretches of the game where you see the ball really hopping. There’s some stretches where it gets a little sticky. … This crew will continue to grow and learn each other.”

With each team’s starters sitting the final minutes, Dzanan Musa brought the Nets within two on a 3-pointer with 1:55 remaining. Then, Musa missed a pair of free throws which would have tied the game, allowing Utah to stretch its lead. The Nets made just 13 of 27 free throws.

“I think shot-making will come,” LeVert said. “We haven’t shot well as a team yet, but when that comes, I think it’ll all come together for us.”