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GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Nets are playing the second leg of a back-to-back as they travel from Indianapolis to Brooklyn. They’ll be playing against the San Antonio Spurs, a team spearheaded by Rookie of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama.
Brooklyn wants to bounce back from a tough loss on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. Brooklyn beat the Spurs by 20 points in February, so the head-to-head matchup favors the Nets. However, their recent struggles might be a good argument against their status as big-time favorites in this matchup.
Brooklyn should not underestimate San Antonio
Even if the Spurs only have a 14-53 record, the Nets must not be complacent. Remember, they have the most promising player in the league in Wembanyama, who’s a shoo-in as a future NBA superstar.
In his first year in the NBA, the 7’4” Frenchman is averaging 20.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. Those are generational numbers that pose a massive threat to the Nets. Nic Claxton is a superb defender, but he must step up against Wemby, especially when Brooklyn gave up a franchise-worst 82 points in the paint against Indiana.
Apart from Wemby, the Spurs have a handful of promising players, including Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson. They can shine as secondary and tertiary scorers, so Brooklyn must be ready to guard them well.
Cameron Thomas should continue the scoring barrage for the Nets because he’s averaging 23.4 points over his last five games. Mikal Bridges must be ready to support him, as he’s been in a massive slump for the past few weeks. After scoring seven points against Indiana, this game against San Antonio should be an opportunity to bounce back.
Injury Report
The Nets’ injury report remains the same, as only Ben Simmons and Dariq Whitehead are out for this game. Both players suffered long-term injuries, which required season-ending surgeries. If they can recover as soon as possible, Brooklyn will find them as crucial pieces in the 2024/25 season.
San Antonio has two players on the injury report, as Cedi Osman is questionable for this game due to an ankle injury. The other player is Charles Bassey, who’s out for the season after tearing his ACL back in December.
