Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith out vs. Jazz with ankle injury

The Nets are likely to get one key player back in Ben Simmons on Monday, but they will be without another due to an injury suffered in Saturday’s tight 106-104 win over the Rockets.

After blocking a Cam Whitmore shot during the third quarter, Dorian Finney-Smith sprained his left ankle and he will be out for Monday night’s game against the Jazz, the team announced Sunday.

Finney-Smith exited the game with 3:45 left in the third quarter after appearing shaken up following the block and never returned. The forward had 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks while shooting 58.3 percent in 31 minutes of action against the Rockets.

After the victory, which broke the Nets’ three-game losing streak, head coach Jacque Vaughn was unable to give an update on the forward’s status.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t able to finish the game, which was huge for us. It affected us a lot of ways,” Vaughn said. “I would have subbed him when they were fouling Nic [Claxton], so that piece of it. Nic was tired because we had to play him 40 minutes, so we needed [Finney-Smith]. Also, and then [Finney-Smith’s] ability to — as you saw tonight — really stretch the floor, get downhill, his defense ability.

“He was able to guard [Alperen] Sengun. He was able to guard [Fred] VanVleet. He’s able to guard Jeff Green. And so, his versatility is huge for us, especially with no Day’Ron [Sharpe] right now. So, no update besides he wasn’t able to finish the game, but we definitely missed him.”

Finney-Smith, 30, is currently having his best season, averaging 9.1 points on 41.2 percent shooting from the field and 38.3 percent from the 3-point line.

Royce O’Neale will likely start in his place for Monday’s matchup. In the past five games he has averaged 4.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

Simmons, who Vaughn said was likely to return on Monday, has been listed as probable. Sharpe (left knee hyperextension) will remain out.

Vaughn announced on Saturday that Dariq Whitehead will have season-ending surgery on Monday to address a left shin stress fracture.