Nets’ Mikal Bridges shows iron-man will after jamming his wrist
Mikal Bridges, the NBA’s ironman, discovered the iron unkind.
Bridges jammed his wrist Wednesday making an attempt for a dunk as he drove the lane and was fouled within the second quarter of the Nets’ 123-114 victory over the Rockets at Barclays Heart.
Early indications are that Bridges averted any hassle, however he was flexing his left arm all through the remainder of the primary half, when he went 1-for-2 from the sphere and 3-for-4 from the road.
He got here out of the halftime locker room earlier than the remainder of his teammates to shoot round.
“It was simply bothering me a bit of bit,” Bridges stated. “Simply shaking it off. By no means [a lingering concern].”
Bridges has by no means missed a recreation throughout his NBA profession, main all lively gamers with 386 consecutive performed.
He poured in 27 factors Wednesday, together with a number of huge pictures down the stretch to show his well being and proceed a outstanding begin to his Nets’ profession.
Solely 5 gamers in NBA historical past had extra factors than Bridges of their first 20 video games after altering groups in-season.
“Every part appears to be OK from the fast synopsis I get from the [medical] group once we stroll in collectively,” head coach Jacque Vaughn stated. “I believe he was making an attempt to dunk that ball extraordinarily arduous together with his left hand. That acquired it in place to begin shaking that factor a bit of bit. Up to now, so good.”
Teammates weren’t nervous about Bridges’ minor scare.
“He’s a tricky dude,” Royce O’Neal stated. “If he can stroll and run, he’s going to play.”
It was Manner Again Wednesday for Vaughn.
He was reminded earlier than the sport that certainly one of his former Nets teammates from the 2004-05 season, Jabari Smith, is the daddy of the namesake rookie standout he was game-planning to cease.
Jabari Smith Jr. was the No. 3 decide within the 2022 draft.
“It’s fairly cool,” Vaughn stated. “Jabari was an important teammate, very excessive character, humorous dude, nice within the locker room. … May actually move the basketball, expert for his dimension.
“That’s the place the 2 — Junior and Senior. — [are similar]: The scale and skill to deal with the ball and play inside-outside.”
Because the Nets’ season kicks into excessive gear, Ben Simmons’ season is over.
When Vaughn revealed Tuesday the group’s plan to close down Simmons, who hasn’t performed since Feb. 15 due to knee and again accidents, he had not but talked with the purpose guard. That had modified by Wednesday.
“The time that he acquired to get consulted with a specialist gave him some solutions, which is nice,” Vaughn stated. “Now he’s simply going to be targeted and geared in direction of the rehab. So principally I used to be simply checking in on him and seeing how he was doing.”
The Nets’ video games on April 2 and April 9 will air reside on My9 because of a scheduling battle on the YES Community.
YES launched a direct-to-consumer subscription service that features the power to observe all Nets video games via the YES app. It’s primarily focused at followers who shouldn’t have cable tv, however pay a month-to-month charge of $24.99 or an annual charge of $239.99 for YES’ content material. A reduction is on the market till April 30.