Nets’ attempt to walk lineup tightrope didn’t end well

The Nets have to develop their rookies while not developing losing habits. Trying to walk that tightrope is why Jordi Fernández benched Ben Saraf for journeyman Tyrese Martin.

With Saraf struggling defensively and Martin having played well to close out the Atlanta game, Fernández had hoped to give his winless Nets a spark with Martin starting and defensive-minded rookie Drake Powell coming off the bench.

But Martin went scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting, Powell was forced out of the game with a twisted left ankle after logging just 4:27, and the Nets got blown out 129-105.

“I trust Tyrese. He did a great job, and I felt like you bring more experience. And then Drake — unfortunately he got hurt — but you bring Drake, who is a good defender and he’s gonna be a high-level defender. And we keep developing these guys,” said Fernández. “Unfortunately, [Powell] couldn’t play longer. But that was the thought process, is to try to help with the lineups. It just didn’t work out.”

Much of the sellout crowd of 17,548 at Barclays Center likely came to see the Nets’ league-record five first-round picks. But Saraf — who’d started every game so far this season — joined Nolan Traore in taking a DNP and Danny Wolf was sidelined with a sprained left ankle, and then Powell went down too.

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Powell was in the locker room afterward with no ice or wrap on his ankle and was walking without a limp. The Nets offered no grade severity on the injury.

“No, I have no idea,” Fernández said of Powell, who had missed time earlier this season with the same sprained ankle after stepping on a teammate’s foot. “It’s bad luck when you step on somebody, and ankles are usually soft tissue. We can discuss that, but when you step on somebody, you cannot control that.

“So, bad luck. I feel for the kid. He’ll be back soon because he’s a worker and he’s great. He started very well with great energy, the two transition points. Unfortunately, this is part of the game, and he’ll be back soon.”

The rookie class logged just 19 minutes Sunday as the Nets lost by 24.

“I think [Fernández] wants more on the defensive side. I think the last two games, I had, like, a couple of breakdowns on defense. So, it’s really important for the team. I think this is the main thing,” Saraf said.

“I feel like I’m a capable defensive player. I think I just need a little more focus on some possessions. Yeah, I need to be there.”

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Terance Mann started after being questionable with an illness. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Egor Dëmin was a minus-15 in 15 minutes. But the rookie point guard — who has had trouble touching the paint — finally scored the first drive and two-point basket of his career late in the first quarter.

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Haywood Highsmith was out with right knee surgery.

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Joel Embiid sat for the 76ers.