INDIANAPOLIS — The Nets staff that beat the Pacers on Saturday night time was a largely unrecognizable group.
The one that may play Monday in Washington will look much more acquainted.
Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, Joe Harris, Seth Curry and T.J. Warren all sat out towards the Pacers for relaxation or load administration. Two different Nets — Kyrie Irving (left adductor tightness) and Nic Claxton (proper hamstring tightness) — have been injured, and Royce O’Neale was out for private causes.
That’s eight rotation gamers, together with the staff’s high six. However after the Nets gutted out a shocking 136-133 win, the entire lacking gamers are anticipated to be again towards the Wizards apart from O’Neale, who didn't journey with the staff.
“Everybody else, we anticipate them to be locked and loaded and able to go in D.C.,” coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned. “Nic as nicely.”
Durant’s workload has been a priority for the Nets. He got here into Saturday main the league in minutes performed at 994, whereas O’Neale was second with 971. To maximise Durant’s relaxation, the star didn’t fly to Indiana and can be a part of the staff in Washington.
Edmond Sumner had a season-high 21 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists in his first sport towards the Pacers since they traded him to the Nets (who waived him) in October 2021. He was injured and missed the Oct. 29 assembly at Barclays Middle and the Nov. 20 journey to Indiana.
The athletic guard, who's getting back from surgical procedure on a torn left Achilles tendon and was re-signed by the Nets this summer season, had 14 factors within the first quarter, slapping the ground after an enormous play.
“I used to be excited to play again in right here. I haven’t performed right here shortly. It was bittersweet as a result of I used to be injured,” Sumner mentioned. “I used to be excited to play. I imply, it’s all love right here. I don’t have any animosity right here. However I’m a competitor, so I needed to return on to compete.
“Clearly, I didn’t get an opportunity to play final time we performed them right here. So positively I used to be excited. I bought to sleep in my very own mattress final night time. So I imply, I felt like house, I’m not gonna lie.”
Cam Thomas scored a career-high 33 factors, 21 of them within the fourth quarter.
The Nets, the worst rebounding staff within the league, benefitted from beginning bruiser Day’Ron Sharpe and Markieff Morris. They'd a 29-7 edge over the Pacers in offensive rebounds. That’s probably the most by any staff in a sport this season and probably the most by the Nets since they'd 30 in Jan. 19, 1998 towards San Antonio.
Sharpe tied a profession excessive with 20 factors and Patty Mills scored a season-high 24 factors. Morris’ 15 factors and 11 boards have been each season highs and his first double-double since April 17, 2021 with the Lakers towards Utah.
Yuta Watanabe returned after lacking 10 straight video games with a proper hamstring pressure. He had 10 factors and 7 rebounds.
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