PHILADELPHIA — Nic Claxton returned from a three-game absence just in time for Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Nets center was battling lower back strain and received an epidural injection last week.
“I feel good. Ready to play. My back feels better,” Claxton said.
Claxton told reporters he has been dealing with outstanding issues since the summer. He said it would take time to fully resolve the problem. Prior to his three-game absence, he hadn’t missed a single game since Oct. 30 against the Memphis Grizzlies when he didn’t play back-to-back after a limited preseason.
“It’s always a different challenge,” Claxton said when asked about the difficulties of playing through a back injury. “Of course the back is hard because it controls pretty much everything you do, but it’s just another challenge. So I just have to lock in and be ready to hoop.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez isn’t sure how long Claxton’s lower back issues will persist, but he hopes the team’s medical staff will continue to guide him in the right direction. Ben Simmons started in place of Claxton on Friday.
“I know the team, the medical team and the performance, they took care of it,” Fernandez said. “And obviously, if he plays, it’s because we think he’s 100% or 200% to play. As you know, bumps and bruises in this league are part of the business, but he’s fine… We can tell them the medical group or you’re in the clear on our side, but then the players have to believe it. They have to, you know, feel good. And obviously, they have to make the decision too. So once he plays, he’s healthy to play.
SIMMONS IS RETURNING TO PHILLY…AGAIN
Simmons spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the 76ers. He had a nasty breakup with the franchise, to say the least. He’s used to hearing boos every time he returns to the Wells Fargo Center and his latest visit was no different. However, Friday’s meeting was the first time Fernandez witnessed the rivalry between Simmons and Philadelphia fans.
“Obviously I’m not in his mind and I can’t feel his feelings. I can only smell mine,” Fernandez said. “As far as basketball goes, there are good crowds here, the fans are always great. They support their team and don’t like their opponents, that’s how it works. And you know, no matter where it goes, I think when you play on the road, you’re a team and you use that to your advantage… I like the way [Ben’s] competed all the time, whether we were playing at home or on the road. As a professional player, you always have to deal with these things.
Simmons said he takes on the challenge every time he comes home.
“Yeah, I like that too,” Simmons said. “I like being in arenas where it’s loud and people are booing and stuff. So it comes with the game. It’s part of it. And I love it.
DO IT YOURSELF
Cam Johnson has found his early season rhythm. The forward was averaging 24.3 points per game in his last three appearances Friday. He shot 46 percent from deep during that stretch, but long-range marksmanship has always been a vital part of his game. The most impressive aspects of his recent rise are the shots he creates himself -even.
“I always thought he was a really good player overall, not just a shooter,” Fernandez said of Johnson. “And getting to know him more now, what he means to the team is not just that he shoots and scores. He also does the right things defensively. His multiple efforts, the verticality, the pressure on the ball, all these things are important to us and we used it, obviously without having CT the other day, I told him: “I’m going to give you the ball more, and the team needs to. you to do it.” And he was excellent. Sometimes the players show you what they are capable of doing and sometimes it’s you who decides I can also give him the ball a lot. It’s great that his teammates also trust him, and they see that.
