Despite their efforts, Brooklyn has managed just enough wins to stay in the play-in race as the New Year approaches. However, they were unable to hold off Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Friday night, falling 96-87 at Barclays Center.
Starters Cam Johnson (hip contusion) and Ben Simmons (lower back maintenance) joined leading scorer Cam Thomas (hamstring) on the sidelines.
After recording 42 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocked shots in a Christmas loss to the Knicks, Wembanyama scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half to lead San Antonio.
Former St. John’s standout Julian Champagnie added 18 points off the bench for San Antonio (16-15).
Veteran guard Shake Milton made his first start of the season after scoring 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s comeback win in Milwaukee. He finished with 16 points and 12 assists, but the Nets dropped to 12-19 ahead of Sunday’s game in Orlando.
Nic Claxton recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds, holding his own in his matchup with Wembanyama, while Keon Johnson scored 15 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter for Brooklyn.
Dorian Finney-Smith returned after missing three games due to a calf issue, but he scored just two points in 27 minutes of play.
“CJ took a knee to the hip [in Milwaukee], so he’ll be out, and as we’ve done before, it’s a next-man-up mentality,” Fernandez said of Cam Johnson before the game. “All the shots he was supposed to take, somebody else will have to take them.”
Milton has been one of the players stepping up and contributing regularly amid a series of injuries, especially since the trade of point guard Dennis Schroder to the Warriors earlier this month.
Thomas, the Nets' leading scorer with 24.7 points per game, is nearing a return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Nov. 25.
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