The Brooklyn Nets have lost nine of their last 11, and with three rotation players listed as out for Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s going to be tough for them to get out of this slump.
According to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, Nets wing Joe Harris is out with lower back soreness. It will be the first game Harris misses this season. Along with Harris, DeAndre Jordan (right middle finger dislocation) and Garrett Temple (right knee contusion) will be out Saturday, per Lewis.
Saturday’s game will be the third straight Temple is out, and per Lewis the Nets expect Temple to return for Monday’s game against the Philaedelphia 76ers.
Joe Harris (lower back soreness) – DeAndre Jordan (right middle finger dislocation), Garrett Temple (right knee contusion) are all out tomorrow for the #Nets vs the #Bucks.
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) January 17, 2020
Harris has started each of the Nets’ 40 games, and his shooting ability has been key for an offense that doesn’t rank high among the rest of the league. Harris is averaging a career-high 14.0 points per game and playing a career-high 31.7 minutes a game. He’s shooting 41.3% from the 3-point line.
The Nets are scoring 109.6 points a game this season, ranking 17th in the NBA. According to NBA.com, the Nets score 74.0 points when Harris is on the floor, and they score 35.6 when he’s off.
With Jordan out, the Nets will be without one of their best rebounders. Jordan and Jarrett Allen are tied for first on the team in rebounds per game (9.7). Jordan, who ranks third in blocks among active players, is Brooklyn’s second-leading shot blocker behind Allen and is averaging 0.9 blocks.
#Nets are tentatively expecting Garrett Temple back on Monday, according to a source. #nba
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) January 17, 2020
A 10-year veteran wing, Temple has provided solid production. He’s having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging a career-high 10.5 points a game and grabbing a career-high 3.4 rebounds a game.
The Nets schedule intensifies over the next three games. After their games against the Bucks and Sixers, the Nets will play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers, the top team in the Western Conference.
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