Nets’ Cam Thomas may return for weekend road trip
DETROIT — Cam Thomas is closing in on a return, with a source telling The Post there is optimism within the Nets organization that he could suit up over the weekend.
Thomas missed a sixth straight game Thursday with a right ankle/midfoot sprain.
“As I said before, it wasn’t that serious. Just rehabbing it, making sure I’m good enough to play the way I feel like I can play out there. Play like myself a little bit,” Thomas said before the Nets’ 118-112 loss to the Pistons. “I should be out there in a few games or whatever. So we’ll see. Whenever they say I’m ready to play, I can play. I’m sticking with what the doctors say and going through the rehab process right now.”
Thomas — who is the Nets’ second-leading scorer averaging 20.9 points — sprained his left ankle on Nov. 8 and didn’t return until Nov. 30. But after missing nine games with that injury to the other ankle, this one is less severe.
The Nets play Saturday in Charlotte and Sunday in Cleveland, with the source saying the team is targeting one of those for a return.
“I’m very hopeful that he can play. His progress is going very well. We’ve got to see where he’s at mentally,” interim head coach Kevin Ollie said. “And, like I say, I confer with our exceptional medical team. They’ve been doing a great job for us all season. So we have an open line of communication with both Cam Thomas and our medical staff and our coaching staff and hopefully we see I’m going to court soon.”
Cam Johnson did not play in Thursday’s loss. He had an MRI exam on Wednesday, with the results confirming a right ankle sprain.
“He hasn’t came on the trip so far,” Ollie said. “We’re still evaluating him back at our facilities and not ruling that he might come later on. But we’re going to take it day-by-day, like everything else with all of our injuries, and look forward to the best.
“We want him to be 100 percent though, so we don’t want them to come back and get re-injured for a prolonged period of time. So we’re taking advantage of this time with other guys having to step up and we’ll be stronger and more capable to go in this long fourth quarter stretch with all of our guys healthy here soon.”
Backup center Day’Ron Sharpe was out after having initially been listed as questionable with a right wrist contusion.
Lonnie Walker IV, who scored 21 points, played after being a late add to the injury list, questionable with an illness.
Dennis Smith Jr. received only his second start of the season.
The Nets’ game at Milwaukee on March 21 will no longer be televised by NBA TV.
The tilts will now be televised by WWOR instead of YES Network: April 1, 6, 12, 14. The Yankees will be on YES those days.