Nets deal with Porter Jr.’s sore knee, Claxton cleared, and a four-game skid
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LOS ANGELES — Brooklyn forward Michael Porter Jr. said lingering soreness from a mild MCL sprain sustained on Jan. 7 in Orlando is still limiting his explosiveness as defenses load up on him.
“Teams are more and more glued to me,” Porter Jr. told reporters, adding that the knee has kept him from creating his usual separation. The 27-year-old, linked to trade rumors all season, has sat out two recent back-to-backs but has otherwise played through the injury.
Head coach Jordi Fernández downplayed the severity of the sprain and said the staff is adjusting sets to free the club’s leading scorer. “I can help him a little bit more,” Fernández said, noting the need for earlier slips and second-side actions.
Claxton’s finger checked, Traore ruled out
Starting center Nic Claxton underwent an MRI on his right pinkie Saturday. The scan showed no significant damage, and he is available for Sunday’s game against the Clippers. Rookie guard Nolan Traore (illness) and guard Cam Thomas (left ankle sprain) will miss the contest, while forward Noah Clowney is doubtful with back soreness.
Traore, 19, recorded career highs of 21 points and 37 minutes in Friday’s double-overtime loss to Boston. “Going forward, we’re definitely going to need that level of play from him,” Claxton said.
Losses piling up
Brooklyn has dropped nine of its last 10, including Wednesday’s 110-56 defeat to the Knicks — the league’s lowest scoring output this season. Although Fernández accepted blame for the slide, players said execution, not coaching, was the issue. “The little stuff we said we wanted to do, we didn’t do,” Clowney said.
The Nets, 6-4 in December, open a five-game trip Sunday that includes stops in Phoenix, Denver, Utah and Detroit.
Source: Hoops Rumors
