SAN ANTONIO
Just three games into the season, the Nets are looking pretty battered, especially after Ziaire Williams went down with a lower back bruise from a hard fall during Sunday’s game.
His availability for Monday’s match in Houston remains uncertain.
“Oh, it was a bad fall. I wish I could go back and change it. But right now, all I can do is focus on recovering,” Williams shared. He mentioned he’s unsure about his status against the Rockets and will need to consult with the medical team first. “I just hope they can help me get back safely.”
“Yeah, it hurt a lot. If I could play, I wouldn’t leave the game. It got tough. I literally couldn’t move afterward. I’ll just talk to the medical staff; they’re already strategizing on my recovery. I started icing, hoping to bounce back after this early game and get back on my feet as soon as I can.”
Other players like Haywood Highsmith (recovering from right knee surgery), Drake Powell (right ankle sprain), and Danny Wolfe (left ankle sprain) also missed Sunday’s game. Powell and Wolfe are day-to-day.
Coach Jordi Fernandez hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the rookies playing Monday, suggesting that Powell could be called up for the game against the Rockets.
“It’s definitely a day-to-day situation, so we’ll see how I feel,” Powell said. “I practiced Sunday, and I have faith in our performance team. It’ll just be a game-time decision.”
Meanwhile, Cam Thomas is battling through injuries—he’s dealing with a broken nose, stitches in his left eye, and icing on his right hand.
“I just have to keep playing and pushing through. If I’m good enough to play, I’ll hit the court, so I’m not too worried. I’ll just play basketball,” Thomas remarked, choosing not to wear a mask despite considering it. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought. You can choose to wear one if you want, but me? I’m taking my chances.”
Fernandez picked up a technical foul with just three seconds left in the game. Though he had no particular grievance, he expressed frustration over the significant disparity in free throws during crucial moments. The game saw a 12-2 free throw difference in the fourth quarter, following a staggering 35-7 discrepancy in the prior game.
“It’s frustrating when they get 12 free throws and we only have two, especially back-to-back,” he explained. “The players need to know I’m advocating for them. The officials should recognize that no matter how young our roster is, we’ll continue to fight, no matter where we play.”
In other news, the Long Island Nets recently traded Drew Timmy along with a 2027 G League first-round pick for Nate Williams, O’Shea Brissett, and Jay Scrubb.
