Overview
- After a sprained ankle limited his first eight games, Powell has averaged over 22 minutes across the last six as he becomes a regular in Jordi Fernández’s rotation.
- Brooklyn has tightened up defensively, allowing no more than 119 points in its last four games after giving up 125 or more in seven of the first 10, with Powell’s presence cited as a factor.
- Fernández called Powell capable of becoming one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, a view teammates echoed as they highlighted his length and on-ball instincts.
- Powell acknowledged offensive growing pains following Tuesday’s 113-99 loss in Boston, noting the volume of film study and the need to make simple reads after posting three points with five fouls in 24 minutes.
- The staff flagged an immediate workload test with three games in four nights across Boston, Toronto and Brooklyn, warning of mental and physical challenges that can trigger a rookie wall.