Chatting with reporters forward of Wednesday’s matchup in opposition to the Phoenix Suns at Barclays Middle, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez supplied just a few updates on the harm entrance.
Ahead Ziaire Williams, who didn’t play in Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks, is taken into account day-to-day with a left ankle sprain. He was dominated out of Wednesday’s sport as properly. There isn’t a timeline for when he’ll return to the court docket.
Fellow ahead Trendon Watford, who has not performed since Dec. 16 due to a left hamstring pressure, additionally remained sidelined on Wednesday. Whereas there’s no timetable for when he’ll return, both, Fernandez stated he has progressed to contact exercises.
Williams missed 12 straight video games from Dec. 2 — Jan. 1 due to a left knee sprain, however did play in 10 straight from Jan. 2 — Jan. 19, the place he averaged 11.6 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals on .424/.396/.852 splits.
Watford missed all the preseason and the primary 13 video games of the common season due to a hamstring pressure. He made his 2024-25 debut in opposition to the Knicks on Nov. 17 at Madison Sq. Backyard. He averaged 8.3 factors, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 13 video games off the bench this season earlier than re-aggravating his harm in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 16.
Fernandez introduced on Tuesday that Cam Thomas, who hasn’t performed since Jan. 2 due to a left hamstring pressure, has been doing on-court actions with no contact and “everything looks good”.
It seems that Bojan Bogdanovic, who was acquired within the Mikal Bridges commerce with the Knicks final offseason, is in the identical boat. He’s but to seem in a sport this season, nonetheless recovering from offseason foot surgical procedure.
“Exactly the same as what he’s been doing — non-contact, on-court workouts,” Fernandez stated of Bogdanovic. “He’s done a great job being around the team, using his voice as a leader, as a veteran. He’s doing a good job.”
SHORTHANDED AGAIN
With Williams, Watford, Thomas, Cam Johnson (proper ankle sprain), Ben Simmons (sickness), D’Angelo Russell (left hamstring tightness harm administration) and Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture) all sidelined on Wednesday, the Nets had been compelled to face Phoenix with simply 9 obtainable gamers.
Brooklyn had simply eight obtainable gamers in opposition to the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 8.
Johnson, who’s availability has been severely restricted in latest weeks, injured his ankle on Nov. 25 in opposition to the Golden State Warriors. He re-injured on Jan. 2 in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks, and sadly, he tweaked it once more throughout the crew’s win in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers on Jan. 14. The ahead completed each video games however appeared to tweak his ankle once more in Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks.
“He just jammed it a little bit… He’ll be out,” Fernandez stated of Johnson’s ankle harm. “We don’t know for how long… He’s got discomfort and we’ve got to make sure we manage it so next time he’s in he can sustain it.”
The Suns performed with out Bradley Beal on Wednesday. Brooklyn used its twenty fourth beginning lineup of the season in opposition to Phoenix, probably the most by the primary 45 video games of a season in franchise historical past.
DURANT RETURNS TO BROOKLYN
Ex-Internet Kevin Durant returned to Barclays Middle on Wednesday for the primary time in 2024-25. Fernandez and the Nets had been shorthanded after they performed the Suns in Phoenix on Nov. 27 however managed to manage the sport all through and had been capable of pull off an early-season upset, 127-117.
“He’s a future hall-of-famer and that great of a player,” Fernandez stated of Durant. “He presents a lot of challenges for your defense and your offense. It’s always great to play against these types of players because it challenges your team. You get to do things that have to be different and throw different coverages. The way he can score at different levels and the way he shoots the ball, and he doesn’t see who’s in front of him. His leadership, how tough mentally he is, all those things, it’s impressive at every level.”
Durant, again in his former residence, had form phrases to share concerning the Nets group as properly.
“I want to see this franchise do well,” Durant stated. “What’s it 12-13 picks they got?… When you look at the big picture, you’ve got young guys getting experience, you’re building assets and getting future picks. Hopefully, you can draft up and put the team together well. I think they’re walking in the right direction.”
