Nets Star Guard Nearing Return
Cam Thomas is getting closer to stepping back onto the court at Barclays Center.
This weekend, he’s set to have an MRI on his left hamstring, and head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned that updates will be shared shortly after. This announcement came before Monday’s game, which resulted in a 116-103 victory over the Hornets—the team’s first home win this season.
“He will have an MRI this weekend, and we’ll keep you posted on the results once we have them,” Fernandez stated.
At just 24 years old, Thomas was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain back on November 7, and they planned a follow-up exam in about three to four weeks.
This Friday marks four weeks since that diagnosis.
Notably, this isn’t the first time Thomas has dealt with such an injury; it’s his second lengthy absence due to a hamstring issue, which affected him last season when he only managed to play in 25 games, due to the same injury occurring three times.
Adding to the context, Thomas got injured during the first quarter of the Pacers’ initial win of the season, where he only played six minutes and didn’t score.
In the eight games he played this season prior to the injury, he averaged 21.4 points and 2.6 assists, shooting a rather disappointing 35.6 percent from the field—his worst career percentage at 40.2 percent.
Michael Porter Jr.’s Stellar Performance
Michael Porter Jr. had an impressive night, scoring a season-high 35 points. This marks his 24th career game with at least 30 points, matching his previous top score this season.
With his 15th point of the night, Porter joined an elite group of five active NBA players who have scored at least 6,000 points while maintaining a career 3-point shooting percentage over 40 percent. The list includes notable names like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Porter attributes part of this offensive success to Fernandez’s strategic schemes. “He’s got a brilliant mind for creating offensive plans,” he noted. He added, “The creative strategies Jordi employs make it easier for me to get involved, which is invaluable.”
In addition, the Nets recorded a season-high 33 assists against Charlotte, with five different players, including Porter himself, contributing at least four assists each.
