PHILADELPHIA — Since acquiring D’Angelo Russell, the Nets had been a winless 0-6 without him.
That was until Saturday and Trendon Watford’s endgame heroics.
The Nets started recent 10-day signee Killian Hayes at point guard, but when it was crunch time, they turned to 6-foot-9 forward Watford to make plays, and he made them.
Watford had 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, logging 9:14 in the final period as the only Net with a positive plus-minus in the final stanza of a 105-103 win over the 76ers.
“It’s time to win. I mean, Jordi [Fernandez] told me I was pretty much gonna finish the game. So, fourth quarter, it’s time to win. We all just knew we had to win that quarter to win the game,” Watford said. “Man, I’m so glad we ain’t have to go to overtime. Honestly, I ain’t know if I had it in me to play five more minutes, I ain’t gonna lie.”
Fernandez said of Watford: “He helps you win. And he does that because he’s able to score, but also able to handle and playmake and play four positions, and post-up and make a 3. So all those things are super valuable at his size and position.”
Cam Thomas was his usual high-scoring self in his first five-on-five since getting hurt, and the gifted young guard seems on the brink of a return.
“I’m all right,” Thomas told The Post before Saturday’s win. “I’m just taking it by their plan, and we’ll see.”
It marked the 22nd straight game Thomas had missed with a left hamstring strain. He hasn’t played since a Jan. 2 victory in Milwaukee, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to return Monday in Washington.
“Just day-by-day now and see, seeing how I feel,” Thomas said. “I’m just seeing how my body reacts, you know? Once I feel good, you know you’ll see me out there.”
Thursday marked his first five-on-five since the injury, significant since it’s essentially the final hurdle to be cleared in his comeback.
“He did great. He scored a lot. I made sure that I told the coaches to pass him the ball and let him shoot,” Fernandez said. “He was great. He did a good job, he was in a good place. It was good to see him play. … Obviously, he has to play again and again and feel like he can sustain a certain amount of load. Then we’ll decide.
“It’s going to be soon. I cannot tell you exactly when, but it’s trending in the right direction, and he’s in a good place and we’re happy to have him back soon.”
The Nets didn’t say what grade Russell’s ankle sprain was, but ruled him out for Monday’s tilt at the Wizards.
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