PHILADELPHIA — Since obtaining D’Angelo Russell, the Nets have been a winless 0-6 with out him.
That used to be till Saturday and Trendon Watford’s endgame heroics.
The Nets began fresh 10-day signee Killian Hayes at level shield, but if it used to be crunch date, they became to 6-foot-9 ahead Watford to form performs, and he made them.
Watford had 11 of his 16 issues within the fourth quarter, logging 9:14 within the ultimate duration as the one Internet with a favorable plus-minus within the ultimate stanza of a 105-103 win over the 76ers.
“It’s time to win. I mean, Jordi [Fernandez] told me I was pretty much gonna finish the game. So, fourth quarter, it’s time to win. We all just knew we had to win that quarter to win the game,” Watford mentioned. “Man, I’m so glad we ain’t have to go to overtime. Honestly, I ain’t know if I had it in me to play five more minutes, I ain’t gonna lie.”
Fernandez mentioned of Watford: “He helps you win. And he does that because he’s able to score, but also able to handle and playmake and play four positions, and post-up and make a 3. So all those things are super valuable at his size and position.”
Cam Thomas used to be his regular high-scoring self in his first five-on-five since getting harm, and the proficient younger shield turns out on the point of a go back.
“I’m all right,” Thomas informed The Submit prior to Saturday’s win. “I’m just taking it by their plan, and we’ll see.”
It marked the twenty second immediately recreation Thomas had overlooked with a left hamstring pressure. He hasn’t performed since a Jan. 2 victory in Milwaukee, and it’s hazy if he’ll be in a position to go back Monday in Washington.
“Just day-by-day now and see, seeing how I feel,” Thomas mentioned. “I’m just seeing how my body reacts, you know? Once I feel good, you know you’ll see me out there.”
Thursday marked his first five-on-five for the reason that trauma, vital because it’s necessarily the overall hurdle to be cleared in his comeback.
“He did great. He scored a lot. I made sure that I told the coaches to pass him the ball and let him shoot,” Fernandez mentioned. “He used to be splendid. He did a just right process, he used to be in a just right playground. It used to be just right to look him play games. … Clearly, he has to play games over and over again and really feel like he can maintain a specific amount of load. Next we’ll come to a decision.
“It’s going to be soon. I cannot tell you exactly when, but it’s trending in the right direction, and he’s in a good place and we’re happy to have him back soon.”
The Nets didn’t say what grade Russell’s ankle sprain used to be, however dominated him out for Monday’s tilt on the Wizards.
