<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-nic-claxton-ejected-raptors-game-shocking-move');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nic Claxton ejected from Raptors game after shocking move');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nic-Claxton-ejected-from-Raptors-game-after-shocking-move.jpg"></figure><h1>Nic Claxton ejected from Raptors game after shocking move</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T18:28:20-08:00">December 19th, 6:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T18:28:20-08:00">December 19th, 6:28pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets may have been in a close game against the Toronto Raptors early in the second quarter, but they’re going to have to play the rest of the game without <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-reacts-season-best-performance-amid-slow-start-2024-25">starting big man Nic Claxton</a> who was ejected.</p><p>Nic Claxton was ejected with a little over eight minutes to go in the second quarter after <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1869917830621343945" rel="noopener">he tossed the ball</a> into the stands following a foul call. Claxton was bringing the ball up court on the break and was fouled by Kelly Olynyk. As the play was winding down, Claxton threw the ball into the stands and the nearest referee immediately signaled for an ejection.</p><p>Claxton was apparently upset over a no-call on the previous Nets’ offensive possession against the Raptors. Up to that point, Claxton had seven points, five rebounds and one blocked shot in a little over ten minutes.</p><p>This past offseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-earns-100-million-contract-before-free-agency">Claxton re-signed with the Nets</a> on a four-year deal worth around $100 million. Claxton had solidified himself as the Nets’ starting center.</p><p>But to begin the 2024-25 season, Claxton was coming off the bench as he dealt with a hamstring issue and the team was managing his minutes. He’s also been managing a back injury this season and has appeared in 20 games for the Nets with 12 starts.</p><p>Claxton was moved back into the starting lineup permanently at the beginning of the month, and he’s started to look more the promising player the Nets envision as part of their future core. He’s been averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocked shots with splits of 62.3 percent shooting from the field, 25 percent shooting from the three-point line and 46.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>The former Georgia standout was the No. 31 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Nets. This is his sixth season in the NBA, all with the Nets.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nic Claxton ejected from Raptors game after shocking move

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-nic-claxton-reacts-season-best-performance-amid-slow-start-2024-25');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Nic Claxton reacts to season-best performance amid slow start to 2024-25');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nic-Claxton-reacts-to-season-best-performance-amid-slow-start-to-2024-25.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Nic Claxton reacts to season-best performance amid slow start to 2024-25</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T09:47:35-08:00">December 9th, 9:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T09:54:05-08:00">December 9th, 9:54am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets haven’t gotten the production <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-new-role-100m-contract">they expected from Nic Claxton</a> to start 2024-25. After signing a contract just short of nine figures, the sixth-year center has struggled to make his normal impact while battling hamstring and back injuries.</p><p>Claxton received an epidural injection in November for a lower back strain, which he initially sustained over the summer and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-long-term-injury-admission-after-receiving-epidural">admitted will require management throughout the season</a>. He entered Sunday averaging 9.1 points, 7.6 rebounds 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in 24.8 minutes per game. However, during <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-jordi-fernandez-atrocious-reaction-players-effort-late-game-collapse-vs-bucks">a 119-113 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks</a>, the 25-year-old flashed the two-way impact that earned him a life-changing contract.</p><p>Claxton posted a season-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.</p><p>“I’m just getting my flow back,” he said postgame. “That’s just me playing more games. My body, everything is just starting to come together. I need to be aggressive for us [offensively], especially right now with Cam [Thomas] being out and us missing some scoring.”</p><p>The longest-tenured Net played a season-high 33 minutes during the loss. It marked his first game in 2024-25 with multiple steals and blocks after he ranked fourth in the NBA in stocks (steals + blocks) over the previous two seasons.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nic Claxton REJECTS Giannis at the rim 😳<a href="https://t.co/9LwgSErkex">pic.twitter.com/9LwgSErkex</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1865874513340019180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2>Nic Claxton flashes two-way dominance during Nets’ loss vs. Bucks</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nic-Claxton.jpg"><figcaption>John Jones-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Claxton developed a reputation as one of the NBA’s top defenders over the last two seasons. He also made noticeable strides offensively during that span, shooting 66.7 percent from the field, the league’s fifth-highest mark.</p><p>His aggressiveness against Milwaukee’s frontline of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis was a step back in that direction.</p><p>“[I saw] Nic being Nic,” Dorian Finney-Smith said of the performance. “In the NBA, all it takes is a good three weeks and he’s right back to his numbers… He’s been hurt all summer. He’s been in and out of the lineup. So it’s hard to get your rhythm, especially playing as a big nowadays. It ain’t like they’re throwing you the ball 15 times and telling you to go get a bucket.”</p><p>“He’s gotta work for his points and his lobs and stuff like that. He’s gotta build that chemistry with guards to even get those lobs. So I know he’s happy to finally find his rhythm.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">MAJOR CLAX ATTACK!!! <a href="https://t.co/y6gFxfZLIZ">pic.twitter.com/y6gFxfZLIZ</a></p><p>— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1865862835311456324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Claxton has reached double figures in his last three appearances, averaging 16.0 points on 65.6 shooting while attempting 10.7 shots per game. The stretch marks his first time reaching double-digit shot attempts in a game this season. He averaged 5.9 shots per game over his first 15 appearances.</p><p>The Georgia product returning to form would be a welcome sight for the Nets, who rank 26th in defensive rebounding percentage, 27th in offensive rebounding percentage, 28th in points in the paint and 18th in opponents points in the paint.</p><p>“I’m feeling better, mentally, physically, everything’s just coming together,” Claxton said. “Just knowing that my back is ok, so I’m trusting my body, I’m putting the work in, and I’m getting back into the flow of things.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets’ Nic Claxton reacts to season-best performance amid slow start to 2024-25

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-jordi-fernandez-reveals-nic-claxton-management-plan-center-battles-back-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Jordi Fernandez reveals Nic Claxton ‘management plan’ as center battles back injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/nets-news-nic-claxton-receives-concerning-injury-update-before-mavs-game.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Jordi Fernandez reveals Nic Claxton ‘management plan’ as center battles back injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-30T13:19:00-08:00">November 30th, 1:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-30T13:28:25-08:00">November 30th, 1:28pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Nic Claxton <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-noah-clowney-injuries-adding-frontcourt-struggles">has not made the impact the Brooklyn Nets expected this season</a> after signing a four-year, $97 million contract. The sixth-year center has seen an inconsistent role due to a nagging back injury.</p><p>Claxton has been battling the back ailment since the summer, which he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-long-term-injury-admission-after-receiving-epidural">told reporters will require management</a> throughout the season. Head coach Jordi Fernandez <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1862638928240496981" rel="noopener">echoed a similar message</a> when asked whether the injury would require the starting center to play on a minutes restriction moving forward.</p><p>“We’re going to manage it, but the good news was that everything was clean,” the Nets coach said before Friday’s 123-100 loss to the Orlando Magic. “We’re going to need to put in a certain kind of work in with him, but other than that, we’re very happy that he can trust the process and keep working and just be 100% as far as, like, being in shape and now having a rhythm.</p><p>If Nic just keeps working, I don’t know in how many weeks, but soon enough, he’ll be the best version of himself, and that’s what we want… We just need his body to be there and play those low-to-mid 30s and we will be in a very good place.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jordi Fernandez on whether Nic Claxton's back injury will require a minutes restriction moving forward:</p><p>"We're going to manage it, but the good news was that everything was clean. We're going to need to put in a certain kind of work with him… I don't know how many weeks, but… <a href="https://t.co/MjaINPqNrG">pic.twitter.com/MjaINPqNrG</a></p><p>— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1862638928240496981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Claxton returned for the Orlando loss after missing the Nets’ previous two games, posting eight points on 4-of-6 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 26 minutes. He came off the bench, as he did during the first eight games of the season while returning from a hamstring injury.</p><h2>Nic Claxton struggling to reach full strength in first year of contract</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Nic-Claxton_2d880e.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Claxton has averaged 8.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks on 65.4 percent shooting over 14 appearances. He’s bounced between the Nets’ first and second units while struggling to reach his accustomed workload.</p><p>The 25-year-old worked up to playing 32 minutes in back-to-back matchups in early November. However, he was forced out by a lower back strain soon after, which <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-is-nic-claxton-playing-knicks-latest-update">required him to receive an epidural</a>.</p><p>Fernandez has emphasized throughout the start of the season that Brooklyn will be cautious with injuries. Given the nature of Claxton’s injury and the team’s low expectations, there should be no urgency to rush his progression.</p><p>Brooklyn will receive reinforcements at center next week, with Day’Ron Sharpe set to return to the lineup. The 23-year-old has been sidelined since training camp due to a hamstring strain.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets’ Jordi Fernandez reveals Nic Claxton ‘management plan’ as center battles back injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-nic-claxton-noah-clowney-injuries-adding-frontcourt-struggles');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets struggling to find frontcourt continuity amid Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney injuries');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Brooklyn-continues-shuffling-frontcourt-rotation-as-injuries-pile-up.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets struggling to find frontcourt continuity amid Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney injuries</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-27T13:38:39-08:00">November 27th, 1:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-27T13:47:35-08:00">November 27th, 1:47pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets’ frontcourt <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-pair-injuries-could-aid-brooklyns-tank-coming-weeks">has yet to reach full strength this season</a>. And just as the team is close to welcoming a piece back, another will be sidelined for an extended period.</p><p>Day’Ron Sharpe is expected to return to the lineup within the next week, the team announced on Wednesday. The fourth-year center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-dayron-sharpe-trendon-watford-miss-start-season-hamstring-injuries">has been out since training camp due to a hamstring injury</a>.</p><p>However, the Nets lost second-year forward Noah Clowney to an ankle sprain on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. The 20-year-old will miss at least two weeks with the injury. Clowney turned in one of the best performances of his career before exiting in Sacramento, posting 18 points on a career-high-tying five-made threes.</p><p>Meanwhile, starting center Nic Claxton has been in and out of the lineup while battling a back injury. The Nets ruled Claxton out for Wednesday’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns, marking his fifth absence in their last seven games.</p><h2>Nets struggling to find continuity in frontcourt as injuries pile up</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Noah-Clowney-and-DayRon-Sharpe.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Sharpe’s return will offer a boost to Brooklyn’s backup center spot, which has belonged primarily to Ben Simmons early this season. The 2021 first-round pick emerged as a legitimate rotation piece in 2023-24, averaging 6.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.7 blocks on 57.1 percent shooting in 15.1 minutes per game. He ranked second in the NBA in rebounding percentage, behind only Andre Drummond.</p><p>Depth at the center position has grown essential as Claxton battles a lingering back ailment. After receiving an epidural during a recent three-game absence, the 25-year-old <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-long-term-injury-admission-after-receiving-epidural">revealed he initially hurt his back during the summer</a>. He added that the injury will be “long-term” and require management throughout the season.</p><p>Claxton returned for matchups with the Philadelphia 76ers and Kings last week. However, he was a late scratch for Monday’s win over the Golden State Warriors and will be sidelined in Phoenix, with the team calling him day-to-day.</p><p>The Nets had high hopes for Claxton this season after signing him to a four-year, $97 million contract. Head Jordi Fernandez said the sixth-year center will step into an expanded offensive role. However, that’s yet to come to fruition, with the Georgia product facing an uphill battle to reach full strength.</p><p>Claxton missed the entire preseason due to a hamstring injury and opened the year on a minutes restriction before his recent back flare-up. He’s averaged 8.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game across 13 appearances.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets struggling to find frontcourt continuity amid Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney injuries

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-nic-claxton-long-term-injury-admission-after-receiving-epidural');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Nic Claxton makes “long-term” back injury admission after receiving epidural');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Nets-news-Nic-Claxton-injury-admission-draws-honest-response-from-Jordi-Fernandez.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Nic Claxton makes “long-term” back injury admission after receiving epidural</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-23T06:36:29-08:00">November 23rd, 6:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-23T09:27:52-08:00">November 23rd, 9:27am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Brooklyn Nets center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-pair-injuries-could-aid-brooklyns-tank-coming-weeks">Nic Claxton received an epidural last week</a> for a back injury that sidelined him for three games. He returned during Friday’s 113-98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers but admitted the injury will be “long-term” and need managing throughout the season.</p><p>“Everybody always manages something, but this, I’ll probably be managing it for a while. I can’t put a date on it, but it’ll be a while,” Claxton said.</p><p>Claxton, who signed a four-year, $97 million contract this offseason, said the back injury has lingered after he initially sustained it during the summer. The 25-year-old also injured his hamstring during training camp, causing him to miss the preseason.</p><h2>Nic Claxton’s role with Nets fluctuates while battling nagging back injury</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Nic-Claxton_2cec46.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Claxton came off the bench against Philadelphia due to a minutes restriction. He posted 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 6-of-9 shooting and was a team-best +2 in 22 minutes.</p><p>The sixth-year center has alternated between the bench and starting lineup this season as the Nets attempt to manage his injuries. He came off the bench for Brooklyn’s first eight games before <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-ben-simmons-blunt-reaction-benching-during-loss-to-celtics">replacing Ben Simmons in the starting lineup</a> for a recent three-game stretch.</p><p>While his latest back flare-up moved him back to the second unit, Claxton <a href="https://x.com/erikslater_/status/1860187819882209341" rel="noopener">said the fluctuating role does not affect him</a>.</p><p>“Whenever you get on the court, we’re basketball players, so we just gotta hoop,” he said. “I mean, it’s different starting and coming off the bench, but whatever the coaches want, we both [myself and Simmons] just gotta adjust and be ready to play.”</p><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-latest-win-shows-sean-marks-work-before-trade-deadline">the Nets eyeing a top draft pick</a>, they will likely take a cautious approach with injuries as the season progresses. Head coach Jordi Fernandez <a href="https://x.com/erikslater_/status/1860093161810591918" rel="noopener">wouldn’t expand on the extent</a> of Claxton’s back ailment.</p><p>While Brooklyn’s performance team deemed the center healthy enough to play, the coach said the decision of whether to take the floor is ultimately up to the player.</p><p>“The team, the medical team, and performance, they’ve been addressing it. And obviously, if he plays, it’s because we believe he is 100% or 200% [ready] to play,” Fernandez said. “As you know, bumps and bruises in this league are part of the business, but he’s doing good… For us, it’s [about] guys feeling good. We can tell them you’re clear from our end, but then players have to believe that… They gotta make the decision as well. So once he plays, he is healthy to play.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
9.3	7.4	2.0	1.3	0.7

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
9.3	7.4	2.0	1.3	0.7

Nicolas
Claxton

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Nicolas Claxton

Latest Nic Claxton News

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Nicolas
Claxton