Sweat dripped from Cam Thomas’ head.
It was about 45 minutes after his Nets’ 121-102 loss to the Portland Path Blazers, and Thomas had simply accomplished a postgame exercise.
The additional conditioning was obligatory after Thomas’ first NBA motion in almost two months.
“Just trying to keep my wind up,” Thomas, 23, mentioned. “Just be ready for the games I’m available for. Just trying to ramp up as quickly as I can.”
Friday’s loss at Barclays Middle marked Thomas’ return from a left hamstring pressure that saved him out the earlier 24 video games.
Thomas tied for the group lead with 16 factors on 7-of-17 capturing in 21 minutes — a efficiency the high-scoring guard described as a “decent first game back.”
“Missed some shots that I normally make when I’m in rhythm and playing, but it’s just the nature of being off for a while and coming back, playing your first game,” mentioned Thomas, who began Friday’s recreation. “Shots, I’m not really worried about. That’s gonna come.”
Friday’s recreation was solely the twentieth look of the season for Thomas, who first injured his left hamstring in a Nov. 25 win at Golden State.
He returned a little bit over a month later and got here off the bench on Dec. 29 in Orlando and on Jan. 2 in Milwaukee. He was shut down from there with one other left hamstring harm, retaining him out till Friday’s return.
Between these prolonged absences, Thomas missed 38 of 40 video games.
Thomas made a number of robust pictures Friday, together with a driving lay-up and a contested step-back jumper on the primary two possessions of the second quarter. He later drilled a fade-away jumper over 7-2 middle Donovan Clingan.
However Thomas confirmed some rust, lacking all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt whereas committing three turnovers, together with a journey on the sport’s first possession.
“He got open. That’s what he does,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned.
“He still needs to keep playing to get his conditioning and to get to more minutes. We’re gonna keep working, but I want him to score, play-make and defend. We’ll hold each other accountable to be better. It was great to have him on the court, great to see that he was able to get those shots up, and I’m pretty sure he wants to be better.”
Now in his fourth season, Thomas is averaging a career-high 24.3 factors per recreation. He started Friday averaging 32.3 minutes per recreation.
Brooklyn is averaging 110.5 factors per recreation with Thomas within the lineup, in comparison with 102.2 with out him.
The Nets entered Friday as winners in seven of their final 11 video games, a stretch by which their defensive score of 107.8 ranked third within the NBA. However Brooklyn faltered defensively Friday, significantly throughout a primary quarter by which the Path Blazers began 10-of-10 from the sphere.
Thomas mentioned Portland “punched first” and compelled the Nets to play from behind all evening.
“I think it’s just more so people getting acclimated to me getting back in the lineup, and me getting a feel back for the guys that have been playing. Trying to figure that out quickly, but I think [Portland] just started out quick.”
The Nets (21-38) now path the Tenth-seeded Chicago Bulls by 2.5 video games for the ultimate spot within the Play-In Event. The Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors, 125-115, in time beyond regulation Friday.
Thomas mentioned he didn’t know whether or not he would play Saturday evening in Detroit, however he was glad with how he felt after Friday’s return.
“It feels good to finally finish a game,” Thomas mentioned, “and not have no pain.”
Initially Printed: February 28, 2025 at 10:14 PM EST
