Noah Clowney making case for Nets minutes despite losing job to Julius Randle

WASHINGTON — After starting 60 games last season for the Nets, Noah Clowney is about to lose that power forward job to Julius Randle.But rather than sulk, Clowney has put together a solid preseason to stake his claim to rotation minutes in a crowded forward competition behind the All-Star.After an understated opener, Clowney has logged consecutive solid outings.

Starting in a victory over Jaylen Brown and the Sixers, Clowney had 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting and 2-for-3 from deep to finish plus-12.And in Monday’s win in Washington, he followed up with 15 points on 5-for-8 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc.Clowney added four assists and a steal without a turnover.“Just steady,” coach Jordi Fernández said.

“He’s been consistent so far.The whole training camp, the whole, all these preseason games.

Very proud of him.You see him with 15 points.“[We] challenge him.

We’re challenging him to rebound.But yet four assists to zero turnovers, that’s pretty impressive.

He’s just been very good — not too high, not too low.He’s always ready.

And that’s the Noah Clowney that we need, because we know that he makes a lot of winning plays.”The Nets close out the preseason Wednesday in Miami.Clowney is eligible for a rookie scale extension, with the deadline coming Oct.19, a day before the regular season starts.

Brooklyn isn’t expected to give him one, meaning Clowney would become a restricted free agent next summer.Rookie Mikel Brown Jr.is slated to make his delayed preseason debut against the Heat.

The No.6 pick, Brown has been sidelined after rolling his ankle three weeks ago.

But the 20-year-old Orlando native practiced fully over the weekend and participated in 5-on-5 on Monday morning.He expects to have roughly 20 family and friends in attendance at Miami.

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