The Brooklyn Nets are looking to halt a four-game skid Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets - but they’ll have to do it without one of their key starters. Terance Mann is officially out with right rib soreness, marking his first missed game of the season.
Mann’s injury first appeared on the radar following Friday’s loss to the Sixers. He was questionable heading into Saturday’s matchup against Milwaukee but ultimately suited up, logging 21 minutes in a 116-99 defeat.
It wasn’t his sharpest outing - four points, one rebound, one assist, and two turnovers on 2-of-8 shooting, including 0-of-4 from deep. Now, the Nets are opting to give him some time to recover.
It’s a tough blow for a Brooklyn team still trying to find its rhythm. Mann has been a fixture in the starting lineup since arriving via offseason trade from Atlanta, starting all 19 games to this point.
He came out of the gate hot, averaging nearly 12 points on better than 50% shooting through the first eight games. But his production has cooled lately - just 6.4 points per game over the last 11 contests, shooting under 36% from the field.
With Mann sidelined, the Nets’ backcourt rotation gets a shake-up. Expect Tyrese Martin to see an uptick in minutes - and he’s earned it.
Over his last six games, Martin has quietly become one of Brooklyn’s most reliable contributors off the bench, averaging 13.3 points on efficient 50/41/79 shooting splits. He’s also taking care of the ball, dishing out 3.3 assists to just 1.1 turnovers per game.
Drake Powell is another name to watch. The rookie wing has shown flashes of two-way potential and has meshed well alongside Martin in the second unit. With Mann out, Powell could get a longer leash to showcase his versatility.
And don’t sleep on Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf. Both rookies were called up from the G League ahead of Saturday’s game and made the most of their minutes, bringing energy and effort in a tough loss. Their development is still in the early stages, but Monday could be another opportunity for them to get valuable NBA reps.
There is some good news for Brooklyn: leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. is expected back in the lineup after missing the last two games. His return should provide a much-needed scoring punch as the Nets try to right the ship.
Meanwhile, Charlotte comes into this one riding a bit of momentum. After dropping seven straight, the Hornets have now won two in a row and will look to keep that streak alive against a shorthanded Nets squad.
Brooklyn’s depth will be tested, and the spotlight shifts to the supporting cast. If Martin, Powell, and the young guys can step up, the Nets might just have enough to snap the skid and get back in the win column.