MIAMI — The Nets are close to getting their leading scorer back.
Cam Thomas and Zaire Williams both missed Monday's 110-95 loss to the Heat, but each has made big strides in their rehab.
The status of both tilts in Milwaukee on Thursday is unknown, but their return should be sooner rather than later.
“He's doing a great job, and so is Ziari. They played five-a-side today and did a great job,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “So we'll see how they feel after that. And you know that's part of the process that they're doing now. “It looks like they're getting closer.”
Thomas is averaging a team-high 24.7 points on effective shooting splits of .461/.389/.866.
Monday marked the 11th straight game he missed with a left hamstring strain, and the Nets fell to 3-8 in that span.
“It's going to be really nice when we get Cam Thomas back to get some real scorer in the half, a real scorer in the half. That'll be good,” Nick Claxton said. “We miss him so much right now.”
Williams missed his eighth straight tilt with a sprained left knee.
Dorian Finney-Smith missed a second straight game Monday night at Miami, where he was demoted from questionable due to a left calf bruise.
He also sat out Saturday's loss to Utah after a hot streak, in which he averaged 11.5 points over his previous four starts on .571 percent shooting from deep.
“Yes, I mean we need him around. Just his energy talking to the players and supporting his teammates. So having him here is important,” Fernandes said. “But it’s important to have him on the field. Everyone feels good, I feel good, his teammates feel good, he is a strong player, he has experience, he has been doing great things for us.
“Of course, I want him on the field, but at the same time, only if he feels 100% fit. He was uncomfortable with a bruise in his calf, and we all know what an injury means, and for us there are no excuses. He is the next man in. There are a lot of From his teammates who played well, they are ready, and he will be ready to support them.
Jaylen Martin and Dariq Whitehead both played two minutes in Miami after being on major league assignments with Long Island.
They were at the G-League Showcase, held from December 19-22 in nearby Orlando, Florida.
Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot), DeAnthony Milton (torn left ACL), Thomas (left hamstring strain), Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain), and Williams (left knee sprain) were all out for the Nets.
Miami's Jimmy Butler has been downgraded to the outfield due to a stomach ailment.
Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Kevin Love (personal reasons) were available.
While the temperature in New York dipped into the single digits, the Nets enjoyed the heat in South Florida — and some recreation.
Ben Simmons, who owns a house and boat in Miami, took Keon Johnson fishing.
“We got some tuna. We had a good time,” Simmons said. “As a boat owner now, it's more fun to take people who don't really go fishing and see people catch fish.
He had fished before, but he enjoyed it. We had a good time. It wasn't a typical fishing trip, but we had fun playing some music and catching some fish. It was a good time.
Nets owner Joe Tsai was on the court in Miami.
Tsai recently purchased 2.9 percent of the Miami Dolphins.
