Brooklyn Nets center Deron Sharp will miss his second consecutive game on Thursday with a sprained left thumb. Head coach Jordi Fernandez said the fifth-year center has no timetable for his return.
“No timeline. [Day'Ron has a] Sprained thumb. No matter how long it takes for him to feel good enough to play again, Fernandez said.
Sharp suffered the injury during Brooklyn's 126-115 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, the team's second straight victory. The 24-year-old was Brooklyn's top performer during the win.
He posted a team-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 18 minutes off the bench. The performance came after playing a key role in the Nets' 23-point comeback win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
De'Ron Sharp sidelined with thumb injury amid tank race
Sharp posted 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals on 6 of 10 shooting in 21 minutes against the Pistons. He beat All-Star center Jalen Duren long and closed out the game on Nets starting center Nick Claxton.
Detroit demolished Brooklyn 138-100 on Tuesday with Sharp sidelined. Duren scored a game-high 26 points on 9 of 10 shooting in 23 minutes. Claxton, meanwhile, struggled mightily, posting just two points and four rebounds on 0-2 shooting in 21 minutes.
Sharp's availability has been vital to Brooklyn's ability to compete this season. According to CleaningTheGlass, his performance on the court versus off has led the Nets to outscore opponents by seven more points per 100 possessions, the team's highest mark and sixth among 35 centers playing more than 1,100 minutes.
Sharp's absence comes amid a hotly contested tank race. The Nets' consecutive wins dropped them from second to fourth in the draft lottery standings. They have one more win than the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards in second and third, respectively, and two more wins than the Pacers in first.
Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain) and Nolan Traore (rest) also will be sidelined Thursday vs. the Atlanta Hawks. Brooklyn recently shut down Igor Demin for the season due to a plantar fascia injury.
