DALLAS — Two games into the season, and the Nets were already down two frontcourt starters with center Nic Claxton and power forward Cam Johnson both missing Friday’s 125-120 loss to the Mavericks.
Both are day-to-day, and neither has been ruled out of Monday’s tilt in Charlotte.
Johnson — who had missed the preseason with a hamstring injury — suffered a left calf contusion late in the opener.
He was added to the injury report as questionable Friday afternoon before being downgraded two hours before tipoff.
“Nothing related to the hamstring. Acute injury that happened at the end of the game that really didn’t know about, presented the next day,” coach Jacque Vaughn said of Johnson. “He tried to go through a little warmup at shootaround and felt it a little bit, so guidance by us to be cautious and sit him out.”
Claxton was out with a left ankle sprain, also suffered Wednesday vs. Cleveland.
He showed up at morning shootaround in a boot, though Vaughn termed that precautionary.
“He finished the game. It happened around the seven-minute mark of the third, still finished the game, kept playing,” said Vaughn, adding the boot was “just precaution. Those first 48 hours after an injury, just staying off of it. So pretty much day-to-day. Good thing we have two days between when we play Charlotte and so hopefully those days work in the benefit of both Cam Johnson and Nic.”
Ben Simmons had 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, actually driving and attacking the rim.
Whether that was intentional or a result of Claxton — another non-shooter — being out of the lineup remains to be seen.
Cam Thomas not only had another 30-point night but has impressed Vaughn with his attention to detail on both ends.
“I’ve always had extreme confidence in him, and that is continuing to grow,” Vaughn said. “The best part of my day today was shootaround and he was the first one to ask a question about the coverage. That made my day to see him grow up and be a third-year player and be engaged in how we’re going to defend tonight. That’s what we want for him.”
The game not only marked the Nets’ first meeting with Kyrie Irving since he forced a trade in February but the returns of ex-Mavs Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie (who arrived in that deal) back to Dallas.
“The [schedule-makers] wanted to hurry up and get it out of the way. They wanted to hurry up and get the tears out,” said Finney-Smith, who had family in the stands. “Probably won’t be no tears, but it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be fun. I’m excited to get back in the gym. Feel the warm-up. I expect good energy. Dallas is like a second home to me. So I know I’ll probably be a little emotional.
“It feels good. I’ve been getting a warm welcome everywhere I went. But I’m excited for this game tonight. It’s going to be fun. Get to play against some of the guys I done went to war with. So, we’ve been talking about it over the summer so it’s finally here. It’s gonna be fun.”
Dinwiddie added: “I’ve got a ton of love for Mavs, Mavs fan base, the team. Shoot, I just congratulated Josh Green on his new deal, so a lot of those guys are still my friends. To a degree, it’s more special. … My son was born in San Antonio. Big piece of my family lives in Texas, so they’ll be at the game. It’ll be fun.”