Nets Notes: Thomas, Porter, Fernandez, Traore
The Nets are pleased with Cam Thomas‘ performance off the bench since he returned from a hamstring injury roughly three weeks ago, but his role isn’t likely to expand, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Thomas was mainly a facilitator in Sunday’s loss to Chicago, contributing three points and 10 assists in 24 minutes.
“Yeah, right now we’re happy where he is, with the minutes he’s playing with the production, being that willing play-maker; because we know how good he is scoring the basketball, and taking those steps defensively,” coach Jordi Fernandez told reporters before the game. “Right now we’re happy where he is. We need him to stay in those minutes a little longer because I, we, just believe what’s most important right now is his body, and (how) his body reacts. And we’re gonna be cautious with that.”
Thomas was hoping for a strong season heading into free agency this summer, but he has continued to be hampered by the same hamstring issues that limited him to 25 games last season. He’s averaging 12 PPG since returning while shooting 40.8% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc, and Lewis notes that Brooklyn is just 4-16 in the games he’s played.
“He’s been sticking with it. He’s had a little bit of a stretch. But like you said just him staying engaged, staying sticking through it with us,” Nic Claxton said. “And if it’s his process as well, you know he’ll start knocking down those shots.”
There’s more on the Nets:
- The team remains winless without Michael Porter Jr., who was held out of Sunday’s game for rest, Lewis states in a separate story. The Nets are 0-8 without their leading scorer and have been outscored in those games by an average of 16.1 points. “Everything has to be done with purpose,” Fernandez said. “You cannot just run around crazy and that’s it. So, that’s very important. No matter who we have out there … I believe we can go out, compete and win. And (Sunday) we didn’t compete to the best of our ability. So, I’m the first one to blame. Watch film (Monday), try to compete better.”
- After watching his team give up 70 points in the first half, Fernandez tried to send a message by pulling four starters for the beginning of the third quarter, replacing Danny Wolf, Terance Mann, Egor Demin and Noah Clowney with Thomas, Nolan Traore, Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin, Lewis adds. The changes didn’t spark a rally as Chicago maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way. “Yeah, it can be rough, but it’s a part of the game. You’ve got to be able to adjust. That’s what we’re dealing with this year. You’ve got to be ready for whatever lineups and our energy needs to be consistent,” Claxton said.
- Traore finished with a career-high 16 points on Sunday after posting a career-best seven assists in Friday’s meeting between the two teams. The rookie point guard has been earning the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates throughout the season, notes C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). “His superpower is obviously his speed, his foot speed,” Porter said. “And he’s been utilizing that, getting downhill, getting in the lane, finding guys, and he’s a great passer. So, he’s going to be really good … and I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops, him and Egor at that point guard position.”
Nets Notes: Thomas, Winning Streak, Bench, Demin
Nets guard Cam Thomas admitted a couple days ago that there would likely be an adjustment period when he returned to action on Saturday, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. After a terrible 0-7 start to the season with Thomas in the lineup, Brooklyn had been playing better in the 24-year-old’s absence, going 9-12 over the past several weeks, including the November 5 win over Indiana in which Thomas was limited to just six minutes after straining his left hamstring.
“Every team adjusts when a certain player goes out,” said Thomas. “We’ll figure it out. Just go out there and play ball. It’s not rocket science. We just go out there, figure out who’s out there together and figure out how to play amongst each other.
“It’s been a while. … Obviously, it’s going to be a learning curve for a few games, but we’ll figure it out quick. We’re pros, we’ll figure it out. So, just going to make it back on the court and play, figure it out and just try to keep stacking wins.”
However, Thomas showed zero signs of rust — or trouble fitting in — as he lit up the Timberwolves for 30 points in 20 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s win at Minnesota, Lewis writes in another story. The impending free agent shot 9-of-15 from the floor and was 9-for-9 at three throw line while chipping in four assists (against zero turnovers) and three rebounds.
Thomas, who was a game-high plus-27, said he was happy to be playing again and to help the team get a win, Lewis notes. Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised Thomas’ performance.
“[I liked] his mindset. He let the game come to him. He assisted, zero turnovers being a simple play every time. And I’m pretty sure the potential assists were high because he made the right play over and over and over,” Fernandez said. “Sometimes you cannot control if those are going to be assists, but you just play the right way. And going to the free throw line, and as efficient as it was, it was just really impressive.
“We have to be careful with the amount of minutes we play him. And knowing that he had a short amount of minutes and using them efficiently, efficiently for the team. He just played, once again, the right play every time: whether it was to score against the line or pass waters. So, very clean game, very connected to his teammates, talking to them, telling them what to do. That’s it.”
We have more from Brooklyn:
- The Nets have now won a season-high three straight games and seven of their past 10 after picking up a road victory against a Minnesota team that had gone 10-3 in its last 13 contests, according to Lewis. The Nets surprisingly have the league’s top-ranked defense in December, Lewis notes. “When you’ve got Mike [Michael Porter Jr.] playing the level he’s playing out right now, throwing a Cam Thomas in the fold, and you have us defending the way that we are, we’re extremely [tough],” Nic Claxton said. “We’re going to be an extremely tough team to beat every night. We’re gonna compete, because those are two extremely gifted scores. And we’ve got shooters around. We’ve got me, Day’Ron [Sharpe] at the rim. So we’ve got a lot of different options, a lot to build off of.”
- While Thomas was the top performer, Brooklyn’s bench also received solid contributions from first-round picks Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf as well as fifth-year center Sharpe in outscoring Minnesota’s second unit 62-33, as C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News relays.
- Fernandez has been pleased with the lottery pick Egor Demin‘s progress so far this season, but he’s constantly pushing the 19-year-old to keep improving, per Holmes. “I think he’s more comfortable,” Fernandez said. “I think he always played like he belongs, and that’s been great. I remember since that preseason game in Toronto. He played and showed right away why we were so high on him and how he handled himself. It’s not just about the shot making but also seeing the floor and his ability to get deflections and rebounds and all those things. We’ve seen how much better he’s gotten from Day 1… We still want to see more and better. And that goes not just for him, but everybody else on the roster.”
Nets Notes: Wolf, Porter Jr., Hauser, Highsmith
Nets big man Danny Wolf lasted until the No. 27 pick in the June draft and he’ll use that as motivation the rest of his career, he told Brian Lewis of the New York Post (subscription required).
“Obviously, I’d be faulted to say I don’t have a chip on my shoulder to not only prove others wrong and prove teams or guys picked ahead of me wrong and just prove myself right, that I know what I can become,” Wolf said. “I’m going to have that chip on my shoulder as long as I’m in this league. … So I use it [for] motivation, but all I’m going to do is work, as I have done.”
The biggest concern regarding Wolf coming out of Michigan was his ability to defend at the NBA level. He has shown thus far that he can more than hold his own at that end, according to Lewis, who notes that Wolf’s defensive field goal percentage (40%) ranks first among rookies who have defended at least 30 shots.
“There were a lot of questions from teams and front offices as to who I could guard. I took that as a chip on my shoulder to prove that I can more than guard in this league,” Wolf said. “But it’s a work in progress, and I need to continue to get quicker and stronger.”
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Michael Porter Jr. is posting career-high numbers and the New York Daily News’ C.J. Holmes uses more advanced statistic measures to lay out Porter’s All-Star case. However, the fact that Porter is playing for a rebuilding club certainly hinders his chances. Holmes notes the Nets are 6-3 when Porter scores 30 points or more. “I mean, just look at what we look like when he’s on the court versus when he’s not on the court,” center Nic Claxton said. “He does so much. He creates so many opportunities for himself, for other teammates. His averages are off the charts, so he definitely should be an All-Star.” Porter is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
- Former Michigan State forward Joey Hauser, brother of the Celtics’ Sam Hauser, is working as a video assistant with the Nets this season, according to NetsDaily (Twitter link). Joey played for the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, last season. He also briefly had a two-way contract with Utah.
- Haywood Highsmith, who has yet to make his Nets debut due to a knee injury, was on the court during pregame warmups on Thursday working out with the coaching staff, but he has yet to be cleared for contact, Lewis tweets. Highsmith was acquired from the Heat in mid-August.
Atlantic Notes: Embiid, George, Martin, Wolf, Demin
Joel Embiid has produced well below his career rates for most of the season, but he flashed his former Most Valuable Player form on Friday, pouring in 39 points in the Sixers‘ 10-point win over Indiana.
“He’s worked at it,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. “The practices this week have helped. His own individual work away from practice has helped. I think him being able to do all of that is a great sign that he’s starting to feel good. I have always said that he’s best when he’s driving. I think he drove a lot to draw fouls early. The best thing was his variety. The 39 points were great, but they came with him scoring through a lot of different schemes. He read the different stuff most of the night, pretty good.”
Friday’s game was the Sixers first in five days, and Embiid believes his knees have held up better when he has more time in between appearances.
“I feel good,” Embiid said. “I’ve been able to be consistent, and that’s the big thing. I’ve been able to do the same thing over and over again this week and not have to take a break. I’ve talked about this before, but the plan of having me play a game and then having two days off seems to be working. So, I’ve been able to get on the court and do a lot of work.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Nurse has increasingly used Paul George as a point forward, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. George has racked up 13 assists over the last three games. “I’m comfortable with the ball,” George said. “I think more than anything, it’s just continue to prove to myself and remain confident as I continue to trust my body and gain confidence on the floor that my body can still produce. So it’s just adding to the confidence, and just chipping away at the work put into this season so far to get ready for this season.”
- Earlier this week, Raptors two-way player Alijah Martin is the G League’s most recent Player of the Week, per the NBA (Twitter link). Martin averaged 26.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in three Raptors 905 wins. This year’s No. 39 overall pick has appeared in just two games with the NBA team.
- Nets rookie big man Danny Wolf had 17 points and seven rebounds in a loss to Dallas on Friday. He’s averaging 13.5 PPG in his last six outings. Wolf benefited from a stint in the G League, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “When he had the opportunity to play with Long Island, he took advantage of his minutes,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “And now that he’s in the rotation, he’s taking advantage of his minutes. So I’m very happy with him. He’s a special player because at his size he can do so many different things. And still trying to figure it out because he’s showing me what he’s capable of doing. He’s capable of doing a lot of things — good things.”
- Another Nets rookie, Egor Demin, only played two-plus minutes in the fourth quarter on Friday as the team fell apart in crunch time, Lewis notes. “He was trying to fix mistakes by trying to make things happen. And this is not how you want to do things,” Fernandez said. “I need him to play with better readiness and better physicality. And this is not the way that the team needs him to play. So, he’s got to be better. Otherwise, the minutes are going to go down, and somebody else will take advantage. I know he cares; he’s always responded and punched back. So, he’s way better than what he performed.”
Nets Notes: Clowney, Highsmith, First-Round Picks, Wolf
A change in attitude is leading Nets power forward Noah Clowney to a breakout season, writes Bridget Reilly of The New York Post. Clowney admits being disappointed in the way he started his third NBA campaign, believing he was “too conservative” in his approach. That changed over the last 16 games, as he’s averaging 16.6 PPG while shooting 45% from the field and nearly 40% from three-point range.
“I didn’t want to mess up, so it got to a point where I just stopped caring. I was like, I’m either going to look crazy or look good doing what I’m supposed to do,” Clowney said. “I think my problem was at a time where I would be too worried about how I looked from the outside. I don’t really care no more because I had to realize the only people whose opinion I really care about and how I’m playing is my teammates and coaching staff that have seen me the whole summer. So, they know what I’m capable of so they weren’t having an issue with what I was doing. Just a matter of doing it and not halfway doing it.”
Clowney has become a fixture in the starting lineup and is playing a career-high 28.1 minutes per night on a Brooklyn team has become surprisingly competitive after an 0-7 start. He’s seeing more time alongside Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, which is creating better scoring opportunities. That trio has a +4.0 net rating in the 304 minutes they’ve been on the court together.
“It’s always easier to play with Mike because of the gravity he brings,” Clowney said. “You gotta respect him. If Mike is playing, the best defender is probably guarding Mike. I think he’s a focal point, obviously. So, he’s the focal point and I’m not a focal point. It’s a lot easier to get in the flow of the game and I think I’ve been able to thrive.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Haywood Highsmith was able to shoot free throws Tuesday at the team’s practice facility, but there’s no official update on when he might be able to return from offseason surgery to address a meniscus tear in his right knee, Reilly adds. Highsmith, who was acquired from Miami over the summer, suffered a setback in October and has yet to make his Nets debut. “We like how he’s progressing, we just don’t have any updates,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “But he’s doing very well.”
- The Nets have an organizational plan for what they expect from their five first-round picks this season, Reilly states in a separate story. Fernandez wants them all to play between 50 and 70 games — whether it’s in the NBA or with the G League affiliate in Long Island — and to concentrate on building certain skills. Only No. 8 pick Egor Demin hasn’t spent time in the G League so far. “There are no emotional decisions here,” Fernandez said. “We have a schedule for these guys based on if they’re accomplishing certain things and what the team needs here to compete.”
- Fernandez describes the relationship with Long Island as “two clubs, but one organization,” per C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). The biggest beneficiary so far has been rookie big man Danny Wolf, who barely got off the bench early in the season, but returned as a different player after a dominant stretch at Long Island. He’s averaging 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists over his last six games while shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc, and his versatility enables Fernandez to utilize taller lineups.
Nets Notes: Demin, Wolf, Porter, Antetokounmpo
The Nets have lost four games in a row and hold a record of 3-16 on the season, but there have been some signs for hope — if not for this season, then for the future, writes C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News.
In Friday’s loss to the Sixers, rookie lottery pick Egor Demin shook off a scoreless first half to finish with the best game of his young career. His final stat line was 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, one steal, and five three-pointers.
“I just think we really needed to flip a switch and find a way,” Demin said. “And for me, it was the moment when I just felt it better, and I found that extra energy in myself… To really find that assertiveness and being decisive and being focused on what I can control and what we can control as a group and keep really following our staples and really trying to reach the goals we put pregame on our game plan and being able to get stops and run the floor.”
Head coach Jordi Fernandez liked what he saw in the second half, but is determined to bring out more consistency in the 6’8″ guard.
“He’s going to have to do that for four quarters and not just to take three attempts in the first [half] and 15 in the second,” Fernandez said. “It doesn’t need to be equal or even, but he just has to find a way.”
Demin missed Saturday’s loss to the Bucks as the team continues to manage his playing time following an offseason left plantar fascia tear.
We have more on the Nets:
- During stretches of Brooklyn’s loss to the Bucks, rookie big man Danny Wolf was the best scorer on the court, Holmes writes. Wolf scored 22 points with four assists and five made three-pointers, leading the team in scoring, threes, and minutes despite coming off the bench. It was only the rookie’s second time playing more than three minutes in a game, both of which occurred in the last three days.
- Michael Porter Jr. has missed the last two games with lower back tightness. While the Nets haven’t expressed any real concern about the injury, Porter’s history of back issues make any ailment along those lines something to monitor closely, Lewis says. “Obviously, we’re never going to rush him. His health, body, is the No. 1 priority,” Fernandez said. “We’re not concerned. [It’s] tightness, and we’ll see how he feels.”
- The Nets’ interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo is a poorly-kept secret, but Saturday’s blowout at the hands of the Bucks only shows how far away they are from being in a position to entice him, Lewis writes in a separate story. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and eight rebounds in just 19 minutes as the Nets were unable to offer any resistance to his onslaught. The former MVP was rumored to have some interest in the Knicks during the offseason and has made it clear that his top priority is to contend for championships.
Nets Notes: Friday’s Loss, Claxton, Demin, Wolf
The Nets suffered their most disappointing loss of the season on Friday in Orlando, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn was up 16 points in the second quarter — the team’s largest lead of the season — and held a 98-94 edge in late in the fourth, only to give up 11 unanswered points to lose by seven.
The upside of the team’s latest loss is that the Nets remain tied with Indiana and Washington for the worst record in the league (1-11), giving all three clubs the current best odds ahead of the 2026 draft lottery, Lewis notes.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- While rebounding has been an issue, starting center Nic Claxton entered Friday’s contest averaging career highs in points (15.3) and assists (3.7) per game and is also shooting a career-best 73.6% from the free throw line, observes C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. “I’m very happy with what I’m seeing from Nic,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Efficiency, true shooting, however you want to call it… He’s got to sustain it for 82 [games], but all his work is paying off. There’s going to be some ups, there’s going to be some downs, but we will support him, and we believe in him because we see the day-to-day work… I’m happy when he plays with energy, he affects everybody else, all his teammates.”
- Fernandez has also been pleased with the performance of lottery pick Egor Demin early on this season, per Bridget Reilly of The New York Post, though the coach readily acknowledges there’s still plenty of room for improvement. “Obviously, you need to learn, he needs to grow on the defensive end be more react proactive instead of reactive,” Fernandez said of the Russian teenager. “I think right there is where he can catch some of the drives and communicate better and learn the schemes. He’s a smart kid. We’re going to keep challenging him to do those things. And he will. But I’m very happy where he’s at right now and what he’s shown.”
- Late first-rounder Danny Wolf has had some solid games in the G League with the Nets’ affiliate in Long Island, but has only played six total minutes in two brief NBA appearances. Fernandez says the Nets will continue to develop their young players at their own pace and the team isn’t interested in rushing the process, as Holmes relays. “It’s not just about one player; it’s about all the players,” Fernandez said. “And if all the players accomplish what their plan is, we’re going to get a competitive team. Because at the end of the day it’s not about you, it’s about us. But I believe in the proper steps, and right now we have or we understand what wins are for us.”
Injury Notes: LeBron, Garland, Sharpe, Morant, Edey
As expected, Lakers star LeBron James has been assigned to the G League today in order to practice with the South Bay Lakers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
James, whose season debut has been delayed while he deals with sciatica on his right side, is being sent to the G League for the first time since he entered the NBA in 2003. The assignment will, of course, be a brief one, giving the 40-year-old an opportunity to take part in his first full practice of the season, including 5-on-5 play, Charania notes.
Charania reported nearly a month ago that James and the Lakers were targeting mid-November for his 2025/26 debut. His progress so far appears to line up with that timeline.
The Lakers, led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, have played well in James’ absence, winning eight of their first 11 games this season.
We have a few more injury-related notes from around the NBA:
- The Cavaliers announced today that point guard Darius Garland has been diagnosed with a contusion on his left great toe after re-injuring that surgically repaired toe in Monday’s game vs. Miami (Twitter link). While Garland will miss Wednesday’s rematch with the Heat, the diagnosis is a best-case scenario for him and the Cavs, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, who notes that the team hasn’t ruled out the point guard for any additional games yet. Garland will receive daily treatment and his status will be updated as appropriate, per the club.
- Nets big man Day’Ron Sharpe sat out on Tuesday vs. Toronto due to what the team referred to as a left glute contusion, but the injury isn’t considered significant, writes C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). “He’s day-to-day, we’re not concerned,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “And we want to make sure he feels good and mentally in a good place to be ready to play. So, that’s all good news, and it’s an opportunity for the next man up.” One of those “next men up” could be rookie forward Danny Wolf, who was recalled from the G League before Tuesday’s game and made his second NBA appearance.
- While Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is questionable to play on Wednesday vs. the Celtics due to right ankle soreness, center Zach Edey (left ankle surgery recovery) has taken another step toward his season debut, having been upgraded from out to doubtful, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. While he may not play on Wednesday in Boston, Edey could be available for Saturday’s game in Cleveland. “I’ve seen him on the court working out,” teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. “I’m excited for him to be back.”
Nets Notes: Sharpe, Powell, Rookies, Clowney
Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe experienced left hamstring tightness in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Knicks, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Sharpe exited the game at the conclusion of the third quarter and didn’t return, finishing with 10 points and six rebounds in 12 minutes.
“No, there’s not been any testing. It’s just tightness. So we’ll do our evaluation and whatever we have to do,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “So, we’ll see. But he played extremely hard.”
Sharpe, who re-signed with Brooklyn on a two-year, $12.5MM deal over the offseason, could hit free agency again next summer if the Nets decline the $6.25MM team option on his contract for 2026/27. The 24-year-old is questionable for Tuesday’s game against Toronto, Lewis tweets, so the injury appears to be relatively minor.
We have more from Brooklyn:
- Rookie Drake Powell had the best game of his young career on Sunday, notching 15 points (on 5-of-8 shooting), three assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block in 23 minutes, Lewis adds. The former North Carolina shooting guard has missed some time this fall due to a right ankle sprain, but he looks to be fully healthy now.
- While Powell and Egor Demin appeared in Sunday’s game, fellow first-round picks Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf were playing in the G League with the Nets’ affiliate in Long Island, according to Lewis. “We’re very well connected with how we want to do things. I want to challenge these guys and develop these guys. There’s not just one avenue. There’s different ways that we can do it,” Fernandez said. “The most important thing is that they take advantage of those minutes, and from there, we’ll decide [where] all of them [play].”
- At 1-9, the Nets are currently tied for the worst record in the league, and they have largely been playing their veterans, not their rookies. Since they’re tanking anyway, C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News argues all five of Brooklyn’s first-rounders should be learning on the fly in the NBA, not playing in Long Island.
- Lewis takes a look at how third-year forward Noah Clowney can continue to improve his game. The 2023 first-round pick has had some solid outings lately, but Fernandez wants to see improvement on the defensive end. “Yeah, I mean Noah always takes positive steps,” Fernandez said. “I need him to be better defensively. And he knows it. His voice needs to grow, and embracing the contact. [Teams are] playing with the two bigs, and whether you’re the low man, whether your communication is on or off the ball, all those things. Because he’s really smart. He’s about the right things. He knows it. And like everybody else, needs to grow into that fast. And I know he will. So, I like his aggressiveness, how he shoots the ball. And you’ve gotta keep taking positive steps.”
Nets Notes: Fernandez, Saraf, Martin, Powell, Wolf
Nets coach Jordi Fernandez understands that wins aren’t likely to be plentiful this season, but he wants to see a better effort from his players than he did in Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn gave up 129 points in a home loss to a Sixers team playing without Joel Embiid and was never really competitive while falling to 0-6.
“We go back to the same with poor defensive effort,” Fernandez said. “I’m failing at trying to get my guys to play hard. I’m trying to ask them questions: How can I do it to get them to play really hard? And then you live with the result. I’m not living with this result because the effort is not there and the defense is not there. And we’re turning it over — 19 turnovers for 20 points. Until we don’t have that, we’re not gonna be able to fight for a win. It’s plain and simple. How many games is it gonna take? It’s six now.”
Fernandez was upset after watching his team allow Kelly Oubre Jr. to score 22 first quarter points on his way to a 29-point night. Tyrese Maxey added 26 and Quentin Grimes contributed 22 off the bench as Philadelphia shot 52.1% from the field.
“We know after every game we come here and say the same thing, our defensive presence, our defensive presence. So you know what it is. It’s obvious,” Terance Mann told reporters. “We’re gonna have to or we’re gonna keep losing. So, that’s what coach wants, if we don’t figure out how and have the willingness to do it, then it’s just gonna be the same results, to be honest. That’s just what it is.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Fernandez made a change to his starting lineup on Sunday, replacing rookie point guard Ben Saraf with Tyrese Martin, Lewis states in a separate story. Martin went scoreless in 27 minutes, missing all six of his shots from the field, while Saraf wasn’t used at all after starting his first five games. “I think (Fernandez) wants more on the defensive side. I think the last two games, I had, like, a couple of breakdowns on defense. So, it’s really important for the team. I think this is the main thing,” Saraf said. “I feel like I’m a capable defensive player. I think I just need a little more focus on some possessions. Yeah, I need to be there.”
- Fernandez was planning an increased role for rookie guard Drake Powell on Sunday, but he had to be removed with a twisted left ankle after playing just 4:27. Powell wasn’t limping after the game and didn’t have ice or a wrap on the ankle, Lewis adds. “He’ll be back soon because he’s a worker and he’s great,” Fernandez said. “He started very well with great energy, the two transition points. Unfortunately, this is part of the game.”
- Danny Wolf missed Sunday’s game as he continues to experience soreness after spraining his left ankle during the opening-night shootaround, per C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. Of Brooklyn’s five first-round picks this year, Wolf is the only one who hasn’t appeared in a game yet.