Nets Player Updates: Sharpe Steps Up in Claxton’s Absence

Nic Claxton, the center for Brooklyn, missed his second consecutive game due to personal issues but is anticipated to return on Monday.

Meanwhile, Dayron Sharpe has been making quite the impression in his absence.

Sharpe put up solid numbers—17 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and only one turnover—in the team’s victory over Denver.

“Dei-Dei is a beast. He’s definitely a starting five in the NBA,” said Michael Porter Jr.

Sharpe himself noted, “I’ve been in the league for five years now, so every summer and every time I’m not playing much, I focus on running and lifting. When I’m the only big guy, I have to choose my battles wisely, deciding when to go hard or when to hold back. It’s all about maturing and learning through experience.”

Cam Thomas also came off the bench, scoring 17 points as a sixth man. Interestingly, he started slow, not scoring in the first 11 minutes, taking just one shot. After halftime, though, he stepped up significantly.

He finished shooting 5-of-9 across 11 minutes and 27 seconds. Coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned that Thomas’s performance was more about reacting to the game rather than mindset.

“I thought he was making the right plays, especially since they were blitzing him,” Fernandez explained. “Whenever they did, he passed the ball to the open man. So, while he didn’t always get an assist, he created opportunities.”

Fernandez added, “Cam’s influence was crucial in the first half when he played unselfishly. In the second half, he was able to capitalize and make tough shots, ultimately finishing with 17 points.”

Nikola Jokic was out for Denver due to a bone contusion in his left knee. Additionally, Cam Johnson, who was traded to the Nuggets from the Nets, sat out with a similar injury in his right knee.

Noah Clowney stood out too, putting up 22 points with six rebounds and a plus-18 rating. He shot 6-of-10 overall and 4-of-6 from three-point range, marking his fifth 20-point game of the season.

In a noteworthy performance, the Nets had a season-high of six players all scoring at least 13 points: Porter, Clowney, Sharpe, Thomas, rookie Egor Demin, and Ziare Williams. Though it seemed they might take a small lead into halftime, a shot attempted from three-quarters of the court was initially counted but later overruled by the Trent Tucker Rule.