Jan 8, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets ahead Noah Clowney (21) appears to submit up in opposition to Detroit Pistons ahead Bobi Klintman (34) within the fourth quarter at Barclays Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Pictures Each NBA staff offers with accidents all through the 82-game common season, and the Brooklyn Nets are not any completely different. However they’re battling greater than their justifiable share proper now.
Brooklyn had solely eight rotation gamers out there in its loss to Detroit on Wednesday evening, and the Nets may very well be equally depleted once they open a street journey on the Denver Nuggets on Friday evening.
Cameron Johnson, the staff’s second-leading scorer at 19.5 factors per recreation, has missed the final three video games with a sprained ankle. Nets coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned there was an opportunity Johnson would return in opposition to Denver, however the sixth-year ahead was listed as out on Thursday evening’s harm report.
“We’re not going to hurry something. So, at any time when he’s clear and he feels good,” Fernandez mentioned. “He is younger, however he is a vet and I belief him. So, I do not need him to go too early and danger something. I simply need him to be one hundred pc as a result of then he makes us higher.”
Johnson is touring with the staff and should return later in its six-game Western Convention street journey.
Except for Johnson, the Nets have been with out their remaining prime 4 scorers on Wednesday.
Cam Thomas (24.7 ppg) has performed in simply two video games since Nov. 25 as he battles a hamstring harm, whereas third-leading scorer Dennis Schroder (18.4) sat out with a bruised left hip. D’Angelo Russell (12.7), acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 29, has performed three video games with Brooklyn however missed the final two with a bruised proper shin.
Noah Clowney, sixth on the staff this 12 months with 9.4 factors per recreation, scored a career-high 29 in opposition to the Pistons to steer Brooklyn.
The Nuggets are hoping to get a giant piece again into their lineup. Nikola Jokic has missed two straight video games resulting from a non-COVID sickness — a 12-point loss to Boston and a 23-point win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday evening.
Jokic leads the NBA in scoring at 31.5 factors per recreation, is second in assists (9.7) and ranks third in rebounding, grabbing a median of 13 per recreation. He’s formally questionable to face Brooklyn.
Denver is 2-3 in video games Jokic has missed and struggled with out him within the loss to the Celtics on Tuesday evening however adjusted 24 hours later to rout Los Angeles.
Jamal Murray led the best way with 21 factors and Michael Porter Jr. hit his season common of 19 factors.
Murray is second on the Nuggets in scoring at 19.4 factors per recreation and third in assists at 6.3 per evening. Russell Westbrook, who has been beginning instead of Aaron Gordon (proper calf pressure), is second in assists at 6.7.
Denver, like Brooklyn, has coped with accidents all through the season, which has factored into the Nuggets’ uneven 21-15 begin.
“We simply have to determine a approach to climate the storm and are available again,” Murray mentioned. “I believe the intent and focus we’re taking part in with, despite the fact that we misplaced to Boston, it was nonetheless nice intent and power, and we simply should hold that form of focus. We are able to beat anybody irrespective of who’s up.”
–Area Stage Media
