Cam Thomas has been recognized with a left hamstring pressure and can miss not less than three weeks, the Nets introduced on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old guard suffered the harm within the third quarter of Monday’s 128-120 defeat of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Middle. Head coach Jordi Fernandez stated he took Thomas out of the sport halfway by means of the interval to “protect him from himself.” He left the court docket with 23 factors. Even with out Thomas on the court docket, the Nets rallied from an 18-point deficit in San Francisco and pulled off the upset win.
“There was no frustration,” Fernandez stated on Monday when requested about Thomas’ emotions when pulled from the sport. “Cam was very efficient…. I just wanted to protect him, and we need Cam Thomas.”
Thomas had missed just one recreation this season earlier than Wednesday’s prognosis was revealed. He ranked 14th within the NBA in scoring, averaging profession highs of 24.7 factors on 46.1% taking pictures from the sphere and 38.9% from 3-point vary. He additionally scored 34 factors on 11-of-22 taking pictures in Sunday’s 108-103 defeat of the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Middle.
Brooklyn was 8-10 coming into Wednesday’s street recreation towards the Phoenix Suns. With out its main scorer in Thomas, the street forward tasks to be tough for Fernandez and the Nets, particularly when factoring in different harm updates shared by the group on Wednesday.
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
The Nets additionally introduced on Wednesday that Noah Clowney has been recognized with a left ankle sprain and can miss not less than two weeks. The second-year ahead suffered the harm within the fourth quarter towards Sacramento on Monday.
Including to Brooklyn’s frontcourt woes, Nic Claxton will miss Wednesday’s recreation towards Phoenix due to decrease again harm administration. He didn’t play in Monday’s recreation towards Golden State and is taken into account day-to-day.
The Nets is not going to have the luxurious of a wholesome middle in the interim, however different frontcourt reinforcements are on the best way. Day’Ron Sharpe, who has not appeared in a recreation this season due to a hamstring harm, has resumed full on-court group exercise and is anticipated to return to the lineup inside the subsequent week.
TRUE TO BROOKLYN
Former Nets star Kevin Durant spoke to the media forward of the Suns’ matchup with Brooklyn on Wednesday. Whereas his tenure in Brooklyn ended on a low observe, the 14-time All-Star stated he nonetheless harbors constructive emotions towards his former group.
“I’m a Net for life. I’m always going to say that; I always feel that,” Durant told azcentral’s Dana Scott. “It’s going to be in my heart and my blood forever. So, it’s always good to see family, people that I grinded with. But they’re playing great ball. People didn’t expect them to be out here beating teams like Golden State… They have some good wins throughout the season so far. So, I’m looking forward to seeing everybody and competing against them.”
Wednesday can be Durant’s third assembly with the Nets since he was traded to the Suns on the 2023 deadline. He averaged 29 factors per recreation in a Brooklyn uniform, though the Huge 3 of him, Kyrie Irving and James Harden finally failed due to components past basketball.
