If there was a positive takeaway from the Nets' disappointing loss to the Magic on Sunday afternoon, it was the return and healthy return of leading scorer Cam Thomas.
Thomas, who has been sidelined since Nov. 25 with a hamstring strain, “felt great'' in his first game back. In a 102-101 loss, he recorded a game-high 25 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds.
The fourth-year guard felt some soreness, but that wasn't unexpected after 25 minutes of effort.
“Yeah, it feels good. Obviously it hurts a little bit, but to play and come back and play with such intensity,” Thomas said after the game. “So, it's a little sore right now, but I'll feel better at the end of the day. I felt great playing there. I have to do other things for game rhythm, conditioning, fatigue. Just get everything back on track, but you'll feel better until you get back to normal. Get ready for another CT.”
“His first half was great. 14 points, 5 assists…great pace of the game,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. “I really liked his aggressiveness. He seemed like he just came back, his shots were going well, he felt good. And I'm happy to have him back on the court.”
Thomas said it will take a few games to get back to his old self after shooting 33 percent from the field (6-of-18) on Sunday. That's down from his 45 percent shooting average this season.
The high-scoring guard also missed the final shot of the game, a desperate 3-pointer at the buzzer, which Thomas believes he would have made had he returned from injury for a few games. are.
“I got a great look. You know, I'm sure everyone believes I can do this shot,” Thomas said. “You know, it’s still my first game back and I’m trying to get my foot down, so if I hit that shot a few games later, I’m sure I’ll be in.”
“I missed some shots today, but I don't usually do that. I think some of it was obviously fatigue and my legs. I'm getting back to playing those kinds of minutes with the defense,” he said. I had to focus on that and almost get back into the flow, in the flow of things.”
In the 13 games Thomas missed due to injury, the Nets went 4-9.
Cam Johnson (left hip strain) left the game against the Magic in the middle of the fourth quarter and did not return.
After the loss, Fernandez did not provide an update on the sixth-year forward.
Johnson had nine points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals in 25 minutes.
