Drake Powell was sidelined Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center with a right ankle sprain, his third such injury to that ankle this season.
The rookie wing suffered the injury in Thursday’s 106-95 loss to the Miami Heat, exiting with 3:37 left in the first quarter after a collision that left him visibly limping as he headed to the bench. He was helped off the floor following a timeout and didn’t return.
After he missed most of the offseason with left knee tendinopathy, ankle injuries have started to pile up for the No. 22 pick. Still, head coach Jordi Fernández said he’s “not concerned” about the recurring issue and expects Powell to “be back soon.”
Powell, who missed six games early in the season, has averaged 6.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 19 appearances while shooting 48.8% from the field, 37.8% from 3-point range and 95.2% at the free-throw line. His defensive rating of 110.3 ranks third on the team among players who’ve appeared in at least eight games.
BACK AND FORTH
With Powell injured, the Nets recalled fellow rookie Nolan Traore from their G League affiliate on Long Island Saturday. After a productive stint with the G League club from mid-November through early December, the 19-year-old appeared in back-to-back games for Brooklyn, logging about nine minutes in each contest against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 12 and the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 14.
“I know that eight to 10 minutes may not seem a lot, but you can really help a team win a game in nine or 10 minutes,” Fernández said. “Nolan deserved to play because he’s done so well with Long Island. He’s gotten better every single game, not just the numbers, but how he was playing.”
While Traore’s minutes remain limited, Fernández said he’s seen growth and credited the rookie for embracing the process.
“That exposure to this environment is very important,” Fernández said. “The reason for all this is to keep developing, keep getting better, keep challenging yourself. And I think he’s doing it. He’s embracing it.”
THOMAS UPDATE
Cam Thomas, sidelined since Nov. 5 because of a left hamstring strain, took part in a 5-on-5 scrimmage Saturday, though the Nets still don’t have a timetable for his return. Fernández said he’s pleased with Thomas’ progress.
“Looked really good,” Fernández said. “And he’s going to continue to do that until we feel he’s ready to go. Big part of the non-contact with the rest of the team. Like I said, played a 5-on-5, and it’s just a matter of when. We’re not targeting a specific date, but we want to see how he feels, and then go to the next session, see how he feels, and then keep building from there. So, obviously, the No. 1 priority is him and his body. And whenever he’s ready to help the team, he will.”
In eight appearances this season, Thomas has averaged 21.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 40.2% from the field, 35.6% from 3-point range and 87.5% at the free-throw line.
