Kon Knueppel’s latest return was over almost as soon as it began.
The Hornets said Friday that Knueppel has a left hamstring strain and will not play against the Celtics. No timetable for his return was given.
He had already missed the first eight games because of a strain in the same hamstring before going down again in Wednesday’s loss to the Nets. It remains unclear whether this is a fresh injury or a setback in the same area.
For Charlotte, that leaves another wait for a player it has barely had available. The Hornets are 3-6, and Knueppel’s brief six-minute cameo is all they’ve gotten since his initial absence.
In Brooklyn, Julius Randle may have made his most valuable late-game contribution without taking another minute on the floor.
As the Nets were pulling away from the Hornets on Wednesday, Jordi Fernandez planned to send Randle back in. Randle pushed back and wanted the group already on the court to finish it off.
“I call him in to sub in and then they take it to 10 or 11 and he’s the one, just let them roll,” Fernandez told reporters, via Sameer Kumar of Sports Illustrated.
Brooklyn finished off a 114-104 win for its second victory, and Fernandez said the group took a step forward even if the night wasn’t spotless.
“It wasn’t perfect, but I think that we took a little bit of a step,” Fernandez said.
Toronto’s issue has been less about the final score and more about what keeps happening right after halftime.
The Raptors are 4-4, but their third quarters have been a problem in their four losses. According to Rocco Moschella of Sports Illustrated, Toronto has been outscored by an average of 13.5 points in those periods.
That trend showed up in full force Wednesday against the Nuggets, when the Raptors were buried 41-15 in the third quarter. Toronto shot 5-of-23 and turned it over seven times in the frame.
Getting Kawhi Leonard back would help. So would simply protecting the ball and giving themselves a cleaner chance to stay in games. Missing shots is one thing; gifting extra possessions makes the climb much steeper.
In Other News...
Danny Wolf Just Gave The Nets A Real Rotation Decision
The Nets finally got their first home win of the season against the Hornets, and one of the more interesting side notes came from the bench. Danny Wolf made his impact after entering in the second half, finishing with 13 points and giving Brooklyn a different kind of jolt when the game needed it.
Jordi Fernndez had reason to like what he saw from both Wolf and Terance Mann, especially in the way they were ready to go when called upon. Michael Porter Jr. also pointed to the teams growth and adjustments after a recent loss, and his 26-point night helped frame a win that felt like more than just a relief, it also opened up a real question about how the rotation might look moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. Is Making His Ceiling Hard To Ignore
Mikel Brown Jr. gave the Nets another reminder of why his long-term upside has become one of the more intriguing storylines around the roster. In a recent game against the Hornets, the rookie guard put up 18 points with two rebounds and four assists in just 20 minutes, flashing the kind of efficiency and poise that can make a young player stand out even in a short stint.
Brown did have a couple of late turnovers, and he was clear afterward that he expects himself to operate at a high standard no matter the setting. For Brooklyn, the bigger question is how much more of that version it can get in the near term, since his playing time is still being carefully managed while the team handles his back. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Face A Tough Deadline Call On Two Productive Veterans
The Nets win over the Hornets offered another reminder that this group can still put together a respectable night, even as the front office keeps one eye on the bigger picture. NBA insider Jake Fischer has Brooklyn in a sell position in the trade market, which puts a tricky layer on top of a roster that still wants to improve and stay in the mix in the Eastern Conference.
Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. have both been productive, and that is exactly what makes the February deadline such a delicate call. Brooklyn has to weigh present-day competitiveness against the chance to reshape the roster, and the interest around those two veterans could determine whether the Nets lean into a push or use this stretch to stock up for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]