The Nets had simply eight wholesome gamers in Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Middle, the minimal allowed per NBA guidelines.
For starters, Day’Ron Sharpe, who completed with 16 factors, 13 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench in Monday’s dwelling loss to the Indiana Pacers, was dominated out in opposition to Detroit due to an sickness.
“He wasn’t feeling great yesterday, and we tried to do what we could, but sometimes you just have to go through it,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “We’ll have him back soon.”
Ben Simmons missed his fourth straight sport as Brooklyn continues to handle his decrease again points. And Dariq Whitehead, who was referred to as up from the G League for Monday’s sport, suffered a concussion whereas enjoying with Lengthy Island on Wednesday.
“It’s just managing it and making sure we can take the proper steps with him,” Fernandez mentioned of Simmons. “Obviously he’s played more than he’s played in the last two, three years and that’s a good sign… And right now, this discomfort, whatever he’s got going on with his calf that is related to managing his back, we just have to be cautious and keep working to where he can continue to play basketball, which is important to us.”
The Nets have been additionally with out Cam Thomas (left hamstring pressure), Cam Johnson (proper ankle sprain), D’Angelo Russell (proper shin contusion), Trendon Watford (left hamstring pressure) and Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture) in opposition to the Pistons.
Bojan Bogdanović (left foot harm restoration) has but to seem in a sport this season.De’Anthony Melton tore his left ACL earlier than he was traded to Brooklyn from the Golden State Warriors and is out for the remainder of the season.
With that lengthy listing of inactives, Fernandez was compelled to depend on Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Reece Beekman, Jalen Wilson and Tosan Evbuomwan in opposition to the Pistons.
“Just go out there and fight, because I think having the opportunity to play minutes for all these guys has to be meaningful,” Fernandez mentioned. “And I’m never going to think, ‘I wish I had my full team’. I want to have all the guys healthy and back, but the reality is, right now we have the bodies that we have. We have to have good, positive energy and be excited to play basketball. That’s all I can focus on right now — use the guys that we have and don’t think about the ones that we don’t have.”
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Wednesday was the ultimate dwelling sport earlier than they embark on a six-game highway journey, the place they are going to face the Nuggets, Jazz, Path Blazers, Clippers, Lakers and Thunder.
These six Western Convention opponents had a mixed document of 111-101 coming into Wednesday’s video games, with Oklahoma Metropolis main the pack at 30-5. Cam Johnson is anticipated to be re-evaluated earlier than Brooklyn departs on Thursday, and Thomas is anticipated to be re-evaluated when the workforce returns.
“That’s where we’re at right now, trying to be better than the last game,” Fernandez mentioned. “Obviously bodies are limited at this point, but it’s exciting, because if you’re one of those players, you’re going to play a lot of minutes.”
LONG TIME, NO SEE
When the Nets play the Lakers on Jan. 17, it is going to be the primary time they confronted off in opposition to Dorian Finney-Smith since final month’s commerce. The ahead has averaged 7.4 factors, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his first 5 appearances for Los Angeles.
The Lakers traded Russell, Lewis and three future second-round picks in 2027, 2030 and 2031 to the Nets for Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton.
