PORTLAND — The Nets’ sport Tuesday night time at Portland may have loads of lottery ramifications. They usually’re going into it shorthanded.
Main scorer Cam Thomas and backup ahead Trendon Watford are each out, whereas level guard D’Angelo Russell and wing Cam Johnson are unsure.
Russell has missed 4 straight video games with a proper shin contusion. Johnson has sat out 5 in a row with a proper ankle sprain suffered within the waning seconds of their Jan. 2 victory in Milwaukee.
The Nets haven’t gained since he acquired damage.
Simmons is all however sure to overlook one of many subsequent two as properly. He nonetheless hasn’t been cleared to play each ends of back-to-backs but, with Brooklyn additionally slated to play the Clippers on Wednesday.
After coming back from a four-game damage absence of his personal with 10 factors, seven assists and 4 rebounds in Denver, Simmons adopted that up with 14 factors, 9 assists and 6 boards Sunday in Utah. He performed 31:38 to exceed his minutes restrict, earlier than lastly sitting within the second half of the extra time interval.
“Ben was engaged the whole game. You see the [stats] … very, very good line. We need this type of Ben, aggressive, trying to score, very efficient,” coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “However what I preferred essentially the most was him participating along with his teammates, speaking to his teammates, telling them what to do. And that was excellent.
“I’m not going to give [the minutes limit], but we felt like his body is the most important thing. And it’s not just goes for Ben, goes for everybody else. And if we feel like there’s any risk, we’re not going to take it. We know where we’re at.… So again, we’re not going to risk anything with Ben or anybody else. Their health, their bodies, are most important for us.”
Requested if he’d be extra more likely to play Tuesday and sit on Wednesday to offer Russell’s shin an additional day to recuperate, Simmons was coy.
“Yeah, whatever is best for the team. I don’t know right now. But Portland is the next focus. So, I’m just taking care of my body, and then we’ll see what happens,” Simmons mentioned.
“I’m good, man. I’m good,” Russell advised The Publish. “I don’t really know what the future is, don’t know what the future holds. If I knew, I’d answer.”
Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot damage restoration), Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture), De’Anthony Melton (left knee ACL tear) and Watford (left hamstring pressure) are all out.
Tosan Evbuomwan had a career-high 22 factors in Utah on 7-for-8 capturing, and 2-for-3 from deep with 5 boards.
Over this three-game stretch, he’s averaging 15.0 factors on .625 capturing and .444 from deep.
“He’s played really well. He brought us a spark,” Nic Claxton mentioned. “He’s a calm presence, too. I don’t know much about his game, but he’s done really well since he’s been here.”
The Nets have drawn 23 complete expenses, fourth most within the NBA and essentially the most within the East.
That they had simply 9 final season, the fewest because the stat began being tracked.
