ORLANDO, Fla. — Cam Johnson looked strong in his return from injury on Wednesday, but even his shot-making couldn’t save the Nets.
Johnson, who had missed the past three games with a sprained right ankle, was a rare bright spot in the 114-106 loss to the Magic.
Against the Magic, he played 28 minutes and 41 seconds, recording 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Johnson made 4 of 7 overall and 2 of 4 from behind the arc.
“Yeah, I’m feeling good,” Johnson said after his first game since spraining his ankle March 5 against Philadelphia.
The veteran forward, who had been a starter before the injury, came off the bench in place of Dorian Finney-Smith on Wednesday.
“We’re always going to look at what’s best for our team,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “I thought he valued his time and finished the game for us. That’s what I want him to understand. I thought he was great. He talked outside. I thought he had it, did his best and made a few shots, which was great. But I loved his intensity and how he wanted to win for the team.”
Lonnie Walker logged just eight minutes, Cam Thomas logged 38 minutes, 46 seconds, and Johnson played extensively.
But after missing Saturday’s game against Charlotte with an illness, the sixth man appeared in Sunday’s game against Cleveland and said he was physically fine against the Magic.
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I’m fine,” Walker said, adding that the limited playing time was purely about the flow of the game, not the minute limit. “Yes, this is how the game will go.”
Walker finished with two points, no assists, and no rebounds on his only attempt from the field. However, he said he is completely healthy.
“I’m back to 100 percent. I’m back to moving and grooving. I dance a little bit and sing in the shower,” Walker said. “So you know God is good.”
But Walker said he plans to get some much-needed rest during Thursday’s off.
“Oh, I’m sleeping. I’m going to shut up and sleep. That’s my ultimate goal, my initial goal, my intermediate goal,” Walker said. “But I know Thursday is my day off, so since I’ve never been to Disney, I might just sneak in and have some fun.”
Thomas’ eight rebounds tied a career high.
