Brooklyn Nets center Nick Claxton may be sidelined for long due to an ankle injury. Claxton has missed the team's last two games after injuring an ankle during practice on Wednesday. However, he is available to return during Sunday's matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.
Brooklyn is in desperate need of frontcourt reinforcements after two consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nets' offense stepped up during their first appearance during the All-Star break. Jordi Fernandez's team averaged 85.0 points on 35.5 percent shooting from the field and 23.3 percent from three with 16.5 turnovers per game in the pair of losses.
Nick Claxton returns from injury for the Nets after two big losses in a row
With Claxton sidelined, De'Ron Sharp was Brooklyn's only available center. Rookie first-round pick Danny Wolf, who has spent most of the season on the wing, filled the backup center minutes.
Claxton should get a significant offensive boost upon his return. The veteran big man has had the most productive offensive season of his career, averaging 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 59.0 percent shooting in 50 appearances.
Wins in the upcoming contests against the Hawks and Dallas Mavericks would undo some of the recent progress Brooklyn has made in the tank race. After three consecutive losses, the Nets have dropped to third in the draft lottery standings. They are in second place, one game behind the Indiana Pacers.
Ziare Williams will be sidelined for Brooklyn on Sunday due to personal reasons. Atlanta will be without Jonathan Kuminga because of a left kneecap injury.
The Hawks have lost four of their last five games, including a blowout 128-97 loss to the Miami Heat on Friday.
