The Nets are anticipated to get again injured forwards Yuta Watanabe and T.J. Warren by the tip of this week, in accordance with coach Jacque Vaughn.
“Hopefully. We’re trending in that path,” Vaughn mentioned Sunday. “Neither one has had a setback, so that they’re nonetheless progressing. So hopefully, that does occur.”
After they’re each wholesome, the Nets may have an enviable numbers crunch.
Watanabe sat out his fourth straight sport with a decent proper hamstring. He’d scored in double figures in a career-high 4 straight and is main the league in nook 3-point share. His absence has pressured Vaughn to overuse Royce O’Neale (greater than 38 minutes in three of these 4) and struggling Joe Harris.
But it surely’s the information on Warren that may arguably be extra noteworthy — and will finally siphon taking part in time from each Watanabe and Harris.
Warren, then with Indiana, hasn’t performed an NBA sport since Dec. 29, 2020 and had foot surgical procedure the subsequent month. He’s primarily missed the previous two seasons however is now figuring out towards gamers and set to lastly return to the courtroom.
Whereas it'll take Warren time to stand up to hurry, if he can recapture even a modicum of his type from the 2020 Orlando bubble, it could be an enormous carry for the Nets.
The 6-foot-8, 222-pound Warren provides size and is a three-level scorer who averaged 26.6 factors and 6.3 rebounds whereas taking part in within the bubble.
Seth Curry’s 29 factors Sunday have been his most since becoming a member of the Nets final season, and his seven 3s tied his most as a Web. He missed the beginning of the season because of ankle surgical procedure and hasn’t performed a back-to-backs but, however the Nets are hopeful he can play Monday versus Orlando.
“I’ll see [Monday],” Curry mentioned. “I hope so.”
“We’ll see. We’ll assess him after the sport,” Vaughn mentioned. “Growing his minutes, which is sweet. Subsequent stage, hopefully he’s taking part in back-to-backs. I’m hoping so.”
Harris’ struggles continued, capturing 1 of 6 total (and from deep) in 16:13. He’s capturing 35.8 p.c total and 32.3 p.c from behind the arc.
“Ultimately, he’s going to have a stretch the place he makes every little thing,” Curry mentioned of Harris. “Simply stick with your routines, don’t get down on your self and hold being aggressive.”
Portland’s Damian Lillard sat out his fourth straight sport, his ninth missed sport out of the Path Blazers’ 19.
The Path Blazers used a number of zones to attempt to cope with the Nets.
“They did a very good job of implementing it and slowing us down within the first half,” mentioned Kevin Durant, who had 31 factors. “However we have been in a position to get some attractiveness there within the second half and draw back.”
David Duke Jr. (non-COVID sickness) and Donovan Williams (G-League — two-way) have been out for the Nets. The latter has been sidelined for Lengthy Island with a proper adductor pressure.
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