NEW YORK — Hours earlier than their cross-district battle with the Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets misplaced a big portion of their beginning lineup.
Nic Claxton was identified Friday with a decrease again pressure and is predicted to overlook not less than per week, the Nets introduced.
The 6-11 middle had been listed as questionable earlier than being dominated out Friday. He was scheduled to obtain an epidural injection Friday, the Nets stated.
The Nets’ depth at middle has already been examined, as they continue to be with out backup massive Day’Ron Sharpe, who suffered a hamstring pressure throughout a coaching camp apply.
It has been a tough begin to the season for Claxton, who re-signed with the Nets in June on a four-year, $100 million deal.
After struggling a hamstring damage earlier than the beginning of the preseason, Claxton started the common season on a minutes restriction and didn’t return to the beginning lineup till the Nets’ eighth recreation.
Claxton, 25, is averaging 8.6 factors in 24.8 minutes in 11 video games, together with 5 begins. His 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per recreation each lead the Nets.
Now in his sixth NBA season, all with the Nets, Claxton logged a season-high 32 minutes in Saturday’s loss at Cleveland, then performed one other 32 minutes in Monday’s win at New Orleans.
He performed 24 minutes in Wednesday’s 139-114 loss to the Celtics at Barclays Heart, scoring three factors on 1-of-3 taking pictures and grabbing 5 rebounds.
The lack of Claxton, a defensive asset, got here at an inopportune time for the Nets, as new Knicks middle Karl-Anthony Cities is off to a robust begin. He entered Friday averaging 26.5 factors and 12.2 rebounds per recreation to guide the Knicks in each classes.
Earlier than Claxton returned to the beginning lineup this month, the Nets largely deployed a beginning 5 that included 6-10 guard Ben Simmons, fellow guards Dennis Schröder and Cam Thomas, in addition to forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith. Simmons moved to the bench as soon as Claxton took over the beginning.
Simmons, who has struggled with again accidents all through his tenure with the Nets, missed Wednesday’s recreation with left calf tightness. He was now not listed on the damage report the next day and was lively for Friday’s showdown at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Finney-Smith was additionally lively for Friday’s recreation after lacking Wednesday’s recreation with a sprained left ankle.
A second-round choose from Georgia in 2019, Claxton has averaged not less than 11.8 factors, 9.2 rebounds and a couple of.1 blocks per recreation over the previous two seasons.
By re-signing Claxton, the Nets have recognized the middle as a long-term staple as a part of their franchise reset. The brand new deal was reached throughout an offseason wherein the Nets traded star ahead Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for a package deal that included 5 first-round picks.
Brooklyn’s subsequent week contains one other assembly with the Knicks on the Backyard on Sunday, a house recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday and a highway recreation with the 76ers in Philadelphia subsequent Friday.
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