Dorian Finney-Smith

Nearly finished in putting together a hard day’s work that included both timely buckets and defending everything one-through-five, Dorian Finney-Smith had only one number in mind with the Brooklyn Nets entangled in a last-minute tie on November 4, 2024: three. Taking a particular liking to the above-the-break 3-pointer along the floor’s right side, Brooklyn’s somewhat-positionless swingman migrates in that direction, affording his teammates the floor’s middle during a pick-and-roll. Prepared to live out a knockdown shooter’s dream with a drive-and-kick headed his way, and the Memphis Grizzlies’ defense a fraction late, Finney-Smith nails a go-ahead triple — his night’s fifth — gifting Brooklyn a lead it wouldn’t again relinquish. A hero both sung and unsung during a resilient win, Finney-Smith came up huge during a battle in which the Nets’ frontcourt was chopped by injuries. Finney-Smith’s memorable five-trifecta night also included 17 points (on 6-of-10 shooting), six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a +12 plus-minus.