The Nets hope Tuesday’s loss in Toronto was the final sport they need to play with out Kevin Durant for awhile.
Durant continues to be on tempo to return from his sprained left MCL, probably as quickly as Thursday at Barclays Heart in opposition to the visiting Miami.
Earlier than coming into well being and security protocols, Steve Nash mentioned he anticipated Durant again both in opposition to the Warmth or three days later in Boston. And earlier than taking over the Raptors, assistant Jacque Vaughn reiterated Durant continues to be on schedule.
“Yeah, the Steve replace that he gave you guys, he didn't inform me something otherwise,” Vaughn mentioned. “And so the final replace he gave the group, we’re going to proceed to abide by that.”
The Nets have been 27-15 (.643) and second within the Jap Convention (sixth within the league) when Durant went down. In his absence from Jan. 16, they have been simply 5-16 (.250) after Tuesday’s 109-108 loss to the Raptors.
Nash can clear well being and security protocols if he information two destructive exams 24 hours aside. He's believed to be asymptomatic and feeling nicely.
“Yeah, I acquired an opportunity to speak to him once more [Monday] night time and some instances [Tuesday] checking on him. He’s doing good each bodily and personally he’s simply bummed that he can’t be with us,” Vaughn mentioned. “I don’t know any specifics. Like I mentioned, once I talked to him, he was in good spirits. He didn’t intimate every other signs. However total, he was feeling OK.”
Cam Thomas (left hand sprain) suited up Tuesday regardless of being questionable earlier than the sport. However heart Andre Drummond (left knee soreness), who’d additionally been questionable, was held out.
“Yeah nothing severe, simply precautionary on our half and particularly with a back-to-back so simply being secure, precautionary for the lengthy haul,” Vaughn mentioned. He wouldn’t decide to Drummond taking part in Thursday, however it appears possible if not downright seemingly.“I’ll depart that to our efficiency workers. I feel total, we took the method tonight simply be precautionary. And so hopefully as we are able to get again dwelling he responds nicely to therapy.”
Thomas completed with 11 factors on 4-for-8 taking pictures in 18 minutes.
Drummond ranks first within the league in rebound proportion (.232) and defensive rebound proportion (.322), and second solely to Steven Adams in offensive rebound proportion (.145).The veteran heart leads the Nets in plus-minus (+22), Internet Ranking (7.8) offensive, defensive and complete rebounds since debuting Feb. 14.
The Nets began Patty Mills, Seth Curry, Bruce Brown, James Johnson and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Nets’ thirty fifth totally different beginning lineup of the season.
Patty Mills in a funk, averaging .262 taking pictures and a minus-8.1 (worst among the many Nets regulars) in his earlier 9 video games coming into Tuesday. He scored simply eight factors on 3-of-7 taking pictures and was a minus-nine in 32 minutes in opposition to the Raptors.Earlier than that skid, he’d been posting .436 taking pictures and a plus-3.0.
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