Brooklyn loses key contributor during Spurs loss as injuries begin to pile up
The Brooklyn Nets lost rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wolf due to ankle injuries during their first game of the season. They lost another key player during Sunday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Zaire Williams left the game after suffering a lower back contusion in a hard fall. He was ruled out immediately, and his status for Monday’s back-to-back game against the Houston Rockets is up in the air.
“He has a back contusion, that’s why he was out. We’ll evaluate and see how he feels. It was a pretty hard fall,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez.
Williams had one of the best performances of his career during Friday’s 131-124 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 6-foot-9 forward scored a career-high 25 points while shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 6-of-9 from three. Williams is coming off a career-best season after his trade from the Memphis Grizzlies and signed a two-year, $12 million contract this summer.
While Williams’ status moving forward is unclear, Powell and Wolff are considered day-to-day.
The Nets are struggling with early season injuries amid an 0-3 start
After missing most of the offseason and part of training camp with tendinopathy in his left knee, Powell injured his ankle during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s season opener in Charlotte. The rookie wing recorded two points and two rebounds while making his only attempt before exiting.
meanwhile, Wolff injured his ankle during Brooklyn’s scrimmage in Charlotte and missed the team’s first three games. After a breakout season at Michigan, the 21-year-old was among the Nets’ most impressive starters during the preseason. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from three in 13.0 minutes per game in a pair of games with the Phoenix Suns.
Williams, Powell and Wolff’s next chance to return will come during Monday’s road game with the Rockets. The Nets will return home on Wednesday to face the Atlanta Hawks. They will then have three days off before hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
2025-10-27 14:37:00
