Brooklyn Nets fans can breathe a sigh of relief as center Nic Claxton's ankle injury seems to be less severe than initially feared. After missing two games following an unexpected injury during practice, Claxton is set to make his return in Sunday's clash against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Nets are desperately seeking reinforcements in the frontcourt after enduring tough losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The absence of Claxton has been felt, with the team struggling offensively since the All-Star break. In those outings, Brooklyn averaged a mere 85.0 points while shooting just 35.5 percent from the field and a cold 23.3 percent from beyond the arc, coupled with 16.5 turnovers per game.
With Claxton out, Day'Ron Sharpe stepped up as the lone center, while rookie Danny Wolf, primarily a wing player, was tasked with filling in the backup center minutes. Claxton's return is expected to inject some much-needed firepower into the offense. This season, he's been on a roll, posting career-best numbers with 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, shooting an impressive 59.0 percent from the floor.
A couple of wins against the Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks could shake up Brooklyn's position in the draft lottery. The Nets have slipped into third place in the standings after three consecutive losses, trailing the Indiana Pacers by just one game for the second spot.
On the sidelines, Ziaire Williams will miss Sunday's game for personal reasons, while Atlanta's Jonathan Kuminga is out due to a bone bruise in his left knee. The Hawks are also looking to bounce back, having lost four of their last five games, including a tough 128-97 defeat to the Miami Heat on Friday.
As Claxton gears up to return, Brooklyn fans will be hoping his presence can spark a turnaround and provide the stability the Nets need in their playoff push.