Brooklyn performed with no quintet of gamers in Friday’s 116-112 preseason-ending loss to Toronto, however starters Nic Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith are each anticipated again for Wednesday’s regular-season opener in Atlanta.
“Nic is shut. We’re nonetheless aiming for the primary recreation of the season,” coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “He’s finished a very good job. He’s working arduous. So we anticipate him to play the season opener.”
Finney-Smith was merely being rested Friday after taking a tough spill on his again two nights earlier in Philadelphia.
“Exhausting fall. Nothing severe. Simply precaution,” Fernandez mentioned. “He’s one of many guys that he nonetheless would go and run by means of the wall, and also you’ve received to inform him to relaxation as a result of his physique is sore.”
Killian Hayes, Day’Ron Sharpe and Bojan Bogdanovic have all missed the complete preseason.
Sharpe and Bogdanovic aren’t near returning, whereas Hayes is on an Exhibit 10 deal, primarily only a coaching camp invite.
To maintain him for the common season, the Nets must filter out a regular deal to make room for him.
Amari Bailey and Tyrese Martin are additionally on Exhibit 10s.
The Nets have an open two-way spot.
The Nets have to be roster-compliant earlier than opening evening, however to take action they’d have to waive the Exhibit 10s or convert them to plain offers (of which they’re devoid) or a two-way (for which Hayes is ineligible).
Ben Simmons returned after sitting out Wednesday in Philadelphia.
After Cam Johnson was used as a high-post creator Wednesday in lieu of Simmons and Claxton — handing out a team-high six assists — he took a scoring function in opposition to the Raptors.
The veteran wing poured in a game-high 32 factors, taking pictures 11 of 21, together with 7 of 14 from behind the arc, in 32 minutes.
Johnson and Finney-Smith have been on the commerce block for a while, linked with the Lakers lately.
“I anticipate to do all of it season. I believe interchangeability is what we’re in search of,” Johnson mentioned of his facilitating.
Fernandez agreed, saying that’s one thing Brooklyn intends to do extra of.
“We’ve modified that place rather a lot,” mentioned Fernandez. “We put him in splits. So it’s one thing with the best way we’re enjoying, everyone’s interchangeable.
“Clearly if we’ve got greater guys, these can be the fellows by design that may go there, nevertheless it’s additionally been fairly cool. When the fellows sadly received harm, that’s going to pressure us to do various things in several methods, and that’s been the consequence. We’ve created good photographs … and it comes from having these guys interchangeable and being able to catch and shoot.”
Fernandez praised the conditioning and motor of second-year wing Jalen Wilson, who began Friday and had 11 factors and 5 boards.
