How Nets defense held its own without Nic Claxton

Without top defender Nic Claxton, the Nets were able to hold their own against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night. 

The 6-foot-11 center, who head coach Jordi Fernandez has challenged to be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation this season, missed the game to manage a hamstring injury after hurting it during preseason. 

However, it didn’t hinder the Nets defensively as they earned a 119-106 win in Memphis, scoring 31 points from 22 turnovers and facing a mere four-rebound deficit. 

“Yeah, I mean, that’s just big-time, you know, everybody’s covering for each other, everybody’s running around, everybody has multiple efforts,” Dennis Schroder said after the win. “And I think that’s what it takes to win an NBA game, especially against a team that’s really a great team in the West. And, I mean, we did it all together tonight. I mean, everybody on the defensive end was disruptive, did it as a collective unit.” 

Throughout the four games this season he has played, Claxton has averaged 8.3 rebounds per game.

On Wednesday, that load was carried by Dorian Finney-Smith (5), Ben Simmons (5), Jalen Wilson (7) and Keon Johnson (7). 

After getting into early foul trouble with 10 in the first quarter, the Nets managed to outscore the Grizzlies, 34-29, in the frame, and they held Memphis to just 44 points in the second half. 

“Just resilience, honestly. Togetherness,” Ziaire Williams said on Wednesday. “Man, it was really fun. It was a really fun night. And like I said, we all stayed together.” 

Claxton is off the Nets’ injury list ahead of Friday night’s game against the Bulls at Barclays Center. 

Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain) is listed as probable for the game while Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot injury recovery) and Day’Ron Sharpe (left hamstring strain) have been ruled out.