Breaking News

Biden vows to return for second debate after disastrous performance
NBA

Banged-up Nets could soon be getting key players back

By
Social Links for Brian Lewis
Published March 8, 2024, 10:27 p.m. ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The injury-riddled Nets could be on the verge of getting some much-needed bodies back.

Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe have been upgraded to probable on the injury report leading into Saturday’s game against the Hornets.

The high-scoring Thomas has missed the last six straight contests with a right ankle/midfoot sprain suffered in a Feb. 26 blowout win over Memphis.

He’s averaging 20.9 points per game, just percentage points behind Mikal Bridges for the team lead.

In his absence, opponents have been able to game plan for Bridges and take away his offense.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr.
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. AP

Getting Thomas back could ease that burden.

Sources had told The Post recently that the Nets were aiming to get Thomas back for one of these games over the weekend.

The Nets play a back-to-back, heading to Cleveland on Sunday to face the Cavaliers.

Meanwhile, Sharpe is also upgraded to probable with a right wrist contusion.

Sharpe missed the past two games.

The young center first suffered the injury after a hard fall during the March 4 loss to the Grizzlies.

His status as Nic Claxton’s backup has limited Sharpe to averaging just 15.6 minutes.

But he’s second in the league in rebound percentage (.200) and offensive rebound percentage (.160), and the Nets have missed his size and strength on the glass.

Johnson is still out with a right ankle sprain.

The sweet-shooting forward was forced out of Tuesday’s win over Philadelphia after logging just eight minutes.

Brooklyn Nets forwards Mikal Bridges (1), Cameron Johnson (2) and Dorian Finney-Smith (28) and guard Cam Thomas (24) wait for play to resume during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
Brooklyn Nets forwards Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Cam Thomas. AP

He had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed the sprain, and didn’t travel with the team to start this season-long, six-game road trip in Detroit.

The last time the Nets faced Charlotte, they suffered one of their worst losses of the season, 129-128, on Nov. 30, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

The Nets allowed 21 of 36 from 3-point range, that .583 percentage the highest they’d permitted all season.

And despite entering Saturday on a five-game losing skid that is the second-worst in the NBA, the Hornets are likely a better team than they were in the last meeting.

Charlotte has the seventh-best defensive rating in the league over their past 10 games.

Ben Simmons (left lower back nerve impingement), rookie Dariq Whitehead (left shin stress reaction), two-way Jacob Gilyard (G-League) and two-way Jaylen Martin (G-League) are all unavailable against the Hornets.

Dennis Schroder’s 31 points Thursday in Detroit weren’t just a season high, but were tallied on just two missed shots, the point guard going 12 of 14 from the field and 5 of 6 from behind the arc.