Vet Millsap strong off Nets’ bench

Paul Millsap hasn’t enjoyed many moments this season commensurate with his résumé as a four-time NBA All-Star, but the veteran forward posted his best statistical game for the Nets this season on Saturday in a 111-107 loss to the Bulls.

Big man James Johnson was sidelined with a shoulder injury, but Millsap finished with a season-high 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting with seven rebounds (five offensive) and three steals in 15:21 off the bench.

“He was great. He did a little bit of everything,” coach Steve Nash said. “He scored the ball. He was able to initiate some offense. He got some rebounds, offensive rebounds. Got some steals. Just did a bit of everything. His intensity was great and I thought his impact on the game was really good.”

The 36-year-old Millsap exceeded his previous season-high in points (eight, on Oct. 29) with two early buckets in the second quarter to reach double digits (11) for the first time this season.

“I have a lot of great teammates telling me to be aggressive when I’m out there,” Millsap said. “Tonight I wanted to put an emphasis on that and try to get some easy buckets down low. … For me, I have to continue to do that, be aggressive and play my game.”

➤ Kevin Durant was limited to 35 regular-season appearances among the Nets’ 72 games last year in his return from 2019 Achilles surgery, but the 11-time All-Star continued his heavy workload Saturday, with 28 points in 38 minutes of action, after also logging 38 minutes Friday in a win over the Timberwolves.

The 33-year-old Durant has missed just one game this season, Nov. 19 against the Magic due to a sore right shoulder.

➤ Even with Johnson sidelined, Nash didn’t reinsert Blake Griffin into the rotation. The former All-Star big man hasn’t played since Nov. 22 at Cleveland.