Date: October 29, 2024
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
Zoran didn't start the second quarter. He didn't expect to.
Sitting near the end of the bench, he tracked the game like a coach in a player's body—eyes scanning defensive matchups, checking spacing, clock tempo, offensive rhythm. The Mavericks' second unit wasn't generating much. Dinwiddie was forcing looks. Gortman missed back-to-back open threes.
Brooklyn went on a mini-run.
BKN 32 – DAL 28
Jason Kidd glanced down the bench.
"Vranes. Warm up."
Zoran checked in with 7:41 left in the second. The energy in the building had shifted—Cam Thomas had just hit two straight midrange shots, and the crowd had come alive.
First possession back, the ball didn't touch his hands.
Second possession, he floated to the weak side, dragged his defender with him, and opened the paint for Davis to hit a soft hook. Invisible work. But real basketball heads would catch it.
Next time down, he ran the second-side pick-and-roll with Gafford. Defender ducked under. Zoran rose smoothly—shoulders square, follow-through automatic.
Splash.
That made 9 points.
Cam Thomas, ever confident, tried to take him one-on-one the next trip down. Zoran slid with him, body low, arms wide. He anticipated the stepback and stayed down on the pump fake.
Thomas forced it. Brick.
"Good," Sweeney called from the sideline. "Don't give him the bait."
Brooklyn's offense reset, but they looked more hesitant now. One possession of elite defense, and it was like a rock in the gears.
Zoran came off a double screen three minutes later and caught it near the top of the key. He didn't rush. Read the floor. Naji Marshall cutting. Gave him the ball in stride.
Assist.
Just clean reads.
No flair. No wasted movement.
The next possession he didn't even touch the ball, but his off-ball movement forced two defenders to tag him. Davis punished the space with a high-low finish.
By the time Kidd subbed him out with 1:12 left in the second, Zoran had 11 points, 2 assists, and a steal on 5-for-6 shooting.
He sat, heart steady.
Not celebrating.
Just thinking.
"One more bucket. That's it. Nothing extra."
It came just before the half.
Kidd leaned over: "You're back in."
Zoran jogged in for the final possession. The Nets had slipped into a lazy zone to close the half.
One swing pass. One jab step. Pull-up elbow jumper.
Bang.
Halftime.
HALFTIME SCORE: Mavericks 52 – Nets 47
Zoran (first half): 13 points (6-7 FG), 2 assists, 1 steal, +10