Brooklyn has two games left. Is Friday a winnable one for the Nets?
Fan appreciation night couldn't have gone any worse for the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
The Nets are aiming to shed the 123-94 lopsided loss to the Indiana Pacers quick. Because Brooklyn has a quick turnaround and must trek west to Milwaukee.
Granted, the Bucks share one thing in common with the Nets: Milwaukee isn't heading for the playoffs either. And will garner a lottery selection once the pairings are made on May 10 with the NBA Draft lottery.
But for Brooklyn, head coach Jordi Fernandez aims to coach a group that envisions finishing strong despite the record and likelihood of landing inside the top 10 of the draft.
"The loyalty and the support has been amazing, especially going into a season that we didn’t win a lot of games,” Fernández said with reporters afterward. “But all our guys worked and played hard, got better, and to feel the support for what we’re trying to do and the plan we have is pretty special.”
Now his Nets enter the Fiserv Forum as a 10.5-point underdog per FanDuel Sportsbook. This despite the handful of injuries on the side of the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one who'll sit out with his left knee hyperextension.
Yet, Brooklyn is equally depleted.
Michael Porter Jr. isn't coming back for the remainder two games with his ankle ailment. Rookies Egor Demin and Danny Wolf are also shut down; Demin with a bad foot and Wolf dealing with an ankle injury.
Noah Clowney is one more injured, as the big has his own ankle ailment. He's been ruled as an injury management decision by the franchise.
Nic Claxton won't be on the floor either, as he's dealt with a lingering finger injury. Ziaire Williams has a left foot injury and won't go.
One more rookie Drake Powell is sitting too, with left knee management as the diagnosis. Even late bloomer Josh Minott won't be in action (left ankle soreness). Terance Mann (right patella) is the last injury on Brooklyn's side.
Again, the Nets have been stung with a litany of injuries. And at 20-60 overall figure to be a lock to land inside the top five of the NBA Draft.
Already there's the feeling Darius Acuff of Arkansas will become the selection at No. 3. But Brooklyn can still look into other possibilities like Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Cameron Boozer of Duke, etc.
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