Egor Dëmin was part of a starting unit that Jordi Fernández sat in the third quarter, and the Nets responded by having their second team get them back in a game they ultimately lost to the Celtics 113-99 .

But Fernández insisted he wasn’t singling out the rookie guard, whose struggles on defense were on display again Tuesday at Barclays Center.

Fernández wasn’t discouraged that Dëmin scored all 12 of his points in the first half and was part of an offense that wasn’t as crisp after halftime.

“Mistakes are fine,’’ Fernández said of Dëmin’s play late in the game. “I’m happy with the mistakes. I’m happy with the way he played. I wanted him to be aggressive, to keep taking shots and challenge himself defensively.”

Egor Dëmin (left) greets Noah Clowney during the Nets’ loss to the Celtic

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