The Nets got key players back Friday night, but will be without their starting center for at least a week.
Ben Simmons and Dorian Finney-Smith returned for the Nets' 124-122 loss to the Knicks at the Garden, but Nick Claxton was sidelined.
The young giant is suffering from tightness in his lower back.
On Thursday, the Nets' 6-foot-11 defensive anchor was listed as questionable due to lower back tightness.
“He's had an epidural and now we're retesting in about seven days, something like that,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “We'll keep you updated. Again, there's no need to worry too much. We want to keep him healthy. His body is number one for us and right now… That’s the next person.”
Fernandez didn't know which play Claxton was injured on, but said his back had been bothering him for some time. Claxton will miss at least three games, Friday and Sunday against the Knicks and Tuesday against the Hornets. The best-case scenario would be for him to return in a week's game against the 76ers in Philadelphia, but that's obviously uncertain.
After missing the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, Claxton was starting to get back into shape. He averaged 8.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 24.8 minutes per game.
With Claxton out, the Nets put Simmons under center. Simmons missed Wednesday's game against the Celtics with a strained left calf, and Finney-Smith sat out with a sprained ankle.
At the time of the big trade between the Knicks and Nets, new coach Fernandez had just gotten to know Mikal Bridges.
They had done some training together and were building a relationship.
He understood the move and got the rebuilding Nets five first-round draft picks, a second-round pick, and a first-round pick in exchange.
“This is part of our direction and what we want to do and our plan to build sustainable success,” Fernandez said. “He's a great player. I told him there's nothing better than being wanted in the NBA, and he was wanted at the time.”
