MIAMI — The Nets are inching nearer towards getting their main scorer again.
Cam Thomas and Ziaire Williams each missed Monday’s 110-95 loss to the Warmth, however every took large steps of their respective rehabs.
The standing of each for Thursday’s tilt in Milwaukee is unknown, however their returns ought to be sooner quite than later.
“He’s doing great, as well as Ziaire. They played five-on-five today, and did a great job,” coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “So we’ll see how they feel after. And you know that’s part of the process that they’re in right now. It seems like they’re getting close.”
Thomas is averaging a team-high 24.7 factors on environment friendly .461/.389/.866 capturing splits.
Monday marked the eleventh straight sport he’s missed with a left hamstring pressure, and the Nets fell to 3-8 in that span.
“It’ll be very nice when we get Cam Thomas back just to have some, real half-court bucket, a real half-court scorer. That’ll be good,” Nic Claxton mentioned. “We’re missing him right now, a lot.”
Williams missed his eighth straight tilt with a sprained left knee.
Dorian Finney-Smith missed a second straight sport Monday evening in Miami, downgraded from questionable with a left calf contusion.
He additionally sat out Saturday’s loss to Utah after a sizzling streak, averaging 11.5 factors over his prior 4 appearances on .571 % capturing from deep.
“Yeah, I mean, we need him around. Just his energy and him talking to the guys, supporting his teammates. So him being here is important,” Fernandez mentioned. “But it’s important to have him on the court. Everybody feels good, I feel good, his teammates feel good, he’s a tough player, experienced, he’s been doing great things for us.”
“Definitely, I want him on the court, but at the same time, only if he feels 100 percent. He’s got his calf contusion discomfort, and we all know what it is to have injuries, and for us there’s no excuses. It’s the next guy. And there’s a lot of teammates that have played well, and they’re ready, and he’ll be ready to support them.”
Jaylen Martin and Dariq Whitehead every performed two minutes in Miami after being on G-League project with Lengthy Island.
They’d been on the G-League Showcase, held Dec. 19-22 in close by Orlando, Fla.
Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot), De’Anthony Melton (left ACL tear), Thomas (left hamstring pressure), Trendon Watford (left hamstring pressure), and Williams (left knee sprain) had been all out for the Nets.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler was downgraded to out with a abdomen sickness.
Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Kevin Love (private causes) had been obtainable).
Whereas the temperature in New York was dropping to single digits, the Nets loved the South Florida warmth — and a few recreation.
Ben Simmons, who retains a home and boat in Miami, took Keon Johnson fishing.
“We got some tunas. We had a good time,” Simmons mentioned. “As a ship proprietor now, it’s extra satisfying to take individuals who don’t actually go fishing and see individuals catch fish.
“He’s fished before, but he enjoyed it. We had a good time. Not a typical fishing charter, but we had fun playing some music and catching some fish. It was a good time.”
Nets proprietor Joe Tsai was courtside in Miami.
Tsai lately bought 2.9 % of the Miami Dolphins.
