TORONTO — After being forced out of Sunday’s loss with left hip soreness, Cam Johnson practiced fully and will be available Wednesday in Toronto.
Forward Ziaire Williams was inching toward a return as well from his sprained left knee, listed as questionable against the Raptors.
But leading scorer Cam Thomas — who just returned Sunday after missing 13 straight with a hamstring injury — will be held out to manage the same injury.
Thomas had come out strong and had 25 points, six boards and six assists, but shot 6-for-18 and wore down toward the end of his 25 minutes off the bench.
“Credit to CT, and credit to the coaches that’ve been working with him to get him ready. You could tell that he was ready,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Obviously, towards the end, his conditioning and getting used to playing higher minutes — he was at 25, 26 the other day — the efficiency went down. But the first half was very, very, very good. So I want to see him continue to grow and get better, and he’ll get there.”
The Nets caught a break by avoiding any serious injury to Johnson.
The forward departed with 3:42 left in the third quarter Sunday, and didn’t return.
After the Nets got outscored 22-4 to close the 102-101 collapse, Fernandez was critical of the team’s veteran leadership.
Johnson’s shooting and calm demeanor was sorely missed, and having him avoid major injury is a huge lift for the Nets.
“I’m good. We’ve been taking care of it. Full go in practice and feel pretty good,” Johnson said. “Yeah, it’s just stuff I’ve been dealing with. It’s nothing crazy. It’s not out of the ordinary. Sometimes stuff happens. Left hip just tightened up on me a little too much there. But I’m fine.”
Williams has missed the past 11 games with a left knee sprain, but appears on the brink of a return to the court, either Wednesday or Thursday in Milwaukee.
“Ziaire was good. He’s done what he’s supposed to do. He looks good. He’s in a good place. And soon enough, we’ll see him,” Fernandez said.
“It’s doing good, man. It’s doing better,” Williams said. “I’ve been playing a lot more and getting after it [and] breaking a sweat. So right at the finish line.”
His potential return comes at an opportune time.
The Nets just dealt away 3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith and will need Williams’ defensive energy.
“It’s been good. [It’s] been frustrating not being out there, but just been trying to win the day, one day at a time,” Williams said. “Stay positive through it all, do whatever I can to get back and be even better than I was on the court.”
“Been having a lot of support through the guys, coaches, staff. It’s been great, and they made this process real easy and stress-free for me so I’m looking forward to coming back. I’m excited.”
Trendon Watford is out with a left hamstring strain.
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