Nets Backcourt Hits “Emergency Only” Status Ahead of Sunday Matchup with Clippers…
LOS ANGELES — The Brooklyn Nets (12-31) arrived at the Intuit Dome on Sunday facing a full-blown roster crisis. What was already a grueling West Coast road trip has turned into a survival exercise for head coach Jordi Fernández, as the team’s backcourt depth has been decimated by a combination of injuries and ill-timed illness.
Rookie Sensation Sidelined
The most recent blow came late Saturday when rookie guard Nolan Traoré was ruled out for tonight’s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers. Traoré is reportedly battling a severe illness, a frustrating setback following his breakout performance on Friday. The 19-year-old Frenchman is coming off a career-high 21 points against the Celtics, showing the explosive playmaking that made him a top-20 pick.
Backcourt Bracing for Impact
Traoré joins leading scorer Cam Thomas on the sidelines. Thomas remains out with a left ankle sprain, leaving the Nets without their primary offensive engine. With the two top guards unavailable, the Nets are expected to lean heavily on Ben Saraf and veteran Terance Mann to handle ball-handling duties. Saraf, who has flashed potential in limited minutes, is projected to see his largest workload of the season.
Frontcourt Uncertainty
The bad news isn’t limited to the perimeter. Starting forward Noah Clowney is officially listed as doubtful with back soreness. Clowney logged a staggering 43 minutes in Friday’s double-overtime heartbreaker, and the physical toll appears to have caught up. If Clowney cannot go, the Nets will likely shift Michael Porter Jr. to a more prominent rebounding role or increase minutes for Nic Claxton.
G League Reinforcements
In a corresponding move to address the depth shortage, the Nets have officially recalled E.J. Liddell from their G League affiliate. Liddell has been productive in Long Island and provides a physical presence in the paint that the team will desperately need if Clowney is unavailable.
By The Numbers: Tonight’s Absences
| Player | Status | Reason | 2025-26 Impact |
| Cam Thomas | OUT | Left Ankle Sprain | Team-leading 24.2 PPG |
| Nolan Traoré | OUT | Illness | 14.5 PPG over last 5 games |
| Noah Clowney | Doubtful | Back Soreness | 13.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG |
| Haywood Highsmith | OUT | Knee Surgery | Defensive anchor (Sidelined since Oct) |
The Nets look to snap a four-game losing streak tonight at 9:00 PM EST.
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