Nic Claxton counters Thunder’s foul tactics with free-throw success in Nets’ win
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For one night, “Hack-a-Clax” didn’t work.
Nic Claxton said the strategy doesn’t bother him, but he hopes he has fended it off.
For the second time in a week, the Thunder intentionally fouled the Nets big man in hopes of capitalizing on his misses at the free-throw line.
The second time around Claxton was mostly ready, going 7-for-10 in the Nets’ win at Barclays Center on Friday.
In the fourth quarter of a game that had become close, the Thunder twice sent Claxton to the line within the final four minutes.
The first time, Claxton missed both — but Mikal Bridges corralled the rebound and preserved possession.
With 1:33 left, again the Thunder hacked Claxton while down 10, but he nailed both free throws.
“Honestly they need to try something else because it didn’t work [Friday],” Claxton said. “They were trying to do anything at that point, they were desperate. I was 7-for-10 from the free-throw line tonight, that’s pretty solid.”
The strategy was more effective last Sunday, when the Thunder beat the Nets in Oklahoma City in small part thanks to fouling Claxton, who went 5-for-10 from the line.
Claxton has long struggled at the line, which culminated in the series-ending loss to the Celtics in the first round of the postseason in 2022, a game in which Claxton missed 10 straight free throws.
He has made strides this season, upping his percentage to a career-best 60 percent. He shot 54 percent over his first four NBA seasons.
“I’ll keep improving and keep going up there trusting my process and knocking down my free throws,” Claxton said.
The Nets appear to have escaped unscathed after a couple of scares in the win over the Thunder.
Cam Johnson — who was sprawled on the floor late in the game with a hamstring issue — and Cam Thomas — who appeared to roll his ankle in the first half but played in the second — are not on the injury report ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Trail Blazers at Barclays Center.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn said Friday the “first prognosis” was that Johnson was merely cramping.
The only non-G-Leaguer out for Sunday’s game is Ben Simmons, who will miss his 30th straight game with a nerve impingement in his lower back.
The Nets waived guard Armoni Brooks. Brooks was on a two-way deal and appeared in 10 games this season, averaging 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game.
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