#Nets’ David Duke Jr. impresses in NBA debut

David Duke Jr. opened some eyes in his NBA debut on Wednesday — including those belonging to his coach.

The former Providence star was pressed into duty for the shorthanded Nets in Wednesday’s loss to the Rockets, and produced nine points and three rebounds in 22 quality minutes. The rookie guard also was one of two Nets to notch a plus rating. Patty Mills was the other.

“We think he’s got a future in the league,” coach Steve Nash said. “So it was great to give him some minutes and see him play, and he played well.”

After going undrafted, the 6-foot-4 Duke signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Nets. That was later converted into a two-way deal. Duke had only appeared in one G-League game for the Long Island Nets, due to a right hip flexor injury.

“We like David a lot,” Nash said. “He’s had some injuries and he’s a developing player.”

The Nets have hit somewhat of a rough patch. They have lost two of their past three games, and in the one victory — over the .500 Mavericks — they needed to rally from a 12-point halftime deficit. The two wins before this brief stretch came by a combined seven points over the mediocre Knicks and Timberwolves, two games that could’ve gone either way.

“Too many stretches where we weren’t physical enough and didn’t have the fight,” Nash said, referring specifically to the Rockets loss.

After falling out of the rotation and missing the previous six games, Blake Griffin returned Wednesday and logged 13 minutes. The veteran forward had seven points and three rebounds.

“Blake was great. It’s a tough position when you don’t play, but he’s continued to have a great attitude,” Nash said. “It looked like he didn’t miss a beat.”