Maxwell Lewis performed one minute within the Nets’ 130-113 street loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. He checked in with 3:52 left and shortly knocked down his first try, a 27-footer from above the important thing.
The 22-year-old ahead was making his Nets debut after being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to Brooklyn on Sunday alongside veteran level guard D’Angelo Russell. It was simply his eighth look this season and the forty second of his profession.
Nonetheless, simply moments after Lewis scored his first NBA factors since Dec. 2, Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl unintentionally stepped on his foot whereas each have been transitioning again down the courtroom. Lewis collapsed immediately, then discovered himself down on the courtroom grabbing his left knee, surrounded by gamers, coaches and trainers. He couldn’t put any weight on his leg and needed to be assisted off the courtroom.
The Nets are calling it a left knee harm. Lewis is not going to play in Thursday’s street sport in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks, and if the harm is as critical because it appeared, he might be set to overlook prolonged time.
“The toughest part today is seeing one of our own go down,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “We’re all thinking of Max… We’re sending all positive energy. That’s what’s most important. The rest of the game doesn’t matter right now.”
Lewis was initially chosen fortieth total by the Denver Nuggets within the second spherical of the 2023 NBA Draft and was dealt to Los Angeles the next day. He performed his faculty ball at Pepperdine, the place he earned All-WCC Second Group honors as a sophomore.
“We don’t know the extent of the injury,” Fernandez mentioned. “Obviously we’ll [get an] MRI, but all our group was thinking about him.”
Lewis’ harm, and a 3rd straight loss, spoiled what was in any other case a powerful 2025 Nets debut for Russell. Regardless of having little apply time along with his new crew, the 28-year-old completed with 22 factors (9-for-13 taking pictures), two rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and one steal in 26 minutes off the bench. It was his fourth 20-point sport of the season.
“I think he was outstanding,” Fernandez mentioned. “His engagement, communication, everything… His court vision, ability to play pick-and-roll, it’s pretty special.”
Ziaire Williams, who has not performed since Dec. 1 due to a left knee sprain, will return to the lineup on Thursday in Milwaukee. Williams has averaged 8.6 factors, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists throughout 21 video games this season whereas taking pictures 40.3% from the sphere and 27.3% from deep.
