MIAMI — The Nets are inching closer toward getting their leading scorer back.
Cam Thomas and Ziaire Williams both missed Monday’s 110-95 loss to the Heat, but each took huge steps in their respective rehabs.
The status of both for Thursday’s tilt in Milwaukee is unknown, but their returns should be sooner rather than later.
“He’s doing great, as well as Ziaire. They played five-on-five today, and did a great job,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “So we’ll see how they feel after. And you know that’s part of the process that they’re in right now. It seems like they’re getting close.”
Thomas is averaging a team-high 24.7 points on efficient .461/.389/.866 shooting splits.
Monday marked the 11th straight game he’s missed with a left hamstring strain, and the Nets fell to 3-8 in that span.
“It’ll be very nice when we get Cam Thomas back just to have some, real half-court bucket, a real half-court scorer. That’ll be good,” Nic Claxton said. “We’re missing him right now, a lot.”
Williams missed his eighth straight tilt with a sprained left knee.
Dorian Finney-Smith missed a second straight game Monday night in Miami, downgraded from questionable with a left calf contusion.
He also sat out Saturday’s loss to Utah after a hot streak, averaging 11.5 points over his prior four appearances on .571 percent shooting from deep.
“Yeah, I mean, we need him around. Just his energy and him talking to the guys, supporting his teammates. So him being here is important,” Fernandez said. “But it’s important to have him on the court. Everybody feels good, I feel good, his teammates feel good, he’s a tough player, experienced, he’s been doing great things for us.”
“Definitely, I want him on the court, but at the same time, only if he feels 100 percent. He’s got his calf contusion discomfort, and we all know what it is to have injuries, and for us there’s no excuses. It’s the next guy. And there’s a lot of teammates that have played well, and they’re ready, and he’ll be ready to support them.”
Jaylen Martin and Dariq Whitehead each played two minutes in Miami after being on G-League assignment with Long Island.
They’d been at the G-League Showcase, held Dec. 19-22 in nearby Orlando, Fla.
Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot), De’Anthony Melton (left ACL tear), Thomas (left hamstring strain), Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain), and Williams (left knee sprain) were all out for the Nets.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler was downgraded to out with a stomach illness.
Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Kevin Love (personal reasons) were available).
While the temperature in New York was dropping to single digits, the Nets enjoyed the South Florida heat — and some recreation.
Ben Simmons, who keeps a house and boat in Miami, took Keon Johnson fishing.
“We got some tunas. We had a good time,” Simmons said. “As a boat owner now, it’s more satisfying to take people who don’t really go fishing and see people catch fish.
“He’s fished before, but he enjoyed it. We had a good time. Not a typical fishing charter, but we had fun playing some music and catching some fish. It was a good time.”
Nets owner Joe Tsai was courtside in Miami.
Tsai recently purchased 2.9 percent of the Miami Dolphins.
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