Brooklyn center Nic Claxton played with his right pinky wrapped during Sunday’s 37-point loss to the Clippers while waiting for MRI results on the finger he hurt two nights earlier in Boston.
The fourth-year big man logged 24 minutes at Crypto.com Arena, posting six points, six rebounds and two steals. Midway through the third quarter he was struck on the same hand by Kawhi Leonard as both players pursued a blocked shot, but Claxton finished the game despite visible discomfort.
“He’s got some discomfort, but I give him credit,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said before tipoff. “He finished Friday’s game and he’s willing to be out there. We care about his health, and everything is fine.”
Warm welcome for Mann
Terance Mann received a tribute video and cheers from the home crowd in his first appearance at the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome since February’s trade that sent him to Brooklyn. The former second-round pick spent five-and-a-half seasons in Los Angeles and said, “Some part of me will always be a Clipper.”
Thomas sidelined
Guard Cam Thomas missed Sunday’s contest with a sprained left ankle, and the team has not set a timetable for his return. “He’s sore… we hope he’ll be back soon,” Fernandez said.
Skid reaches five
The Nets shot 33.7 percent, committed 17 turnovers and surrendered numerous paint baskets on Sunday, four days after a 54-point defeat to the Knicks. Fernandez questioned his team’s competitiveness, stating, “You can lose, and you can be a loser… For 18 minutes we lost and were competitive. And for 30, we were losers.”
Brooklyn (record not provided) will try to halt its five-game losing streak Tuesday in Phoenix.
Source: Hoops Rumors
