Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trailblazers preview: Late night tank game

The Brooklyn Nets’ 112-11 loss to Utah Jazz was a tough one. Rookie Isaiah Collier took matters into his own hands and delivered the game of his life, including the layup that would seal the deal for the Jazz. But don’t despair Nets fans. Even though we lost, we didn’t REALLY lose. The ‘T’ word is still in full effect and things moved in a positive direction for Cooper Flagg or those boys down in Jersey as a result of the loss. The Nets moved from having the seventh-best shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the May 12 lottery to sixth.

Tonight is another important date in the Nets tank, er, rebuild. They face Portland Trail Blazers which is a half game behind the Nets in seventh place.

Where to see

See the action at 10:00 PM ET on YES Network and NBA League Pass.

Injuries

No Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain), Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot injury recovery), Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture), DeAnthony Melton (left knee tear) or Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain) for the Nets. Ben Simmons (lower back, left knee soreness), Cam Johnson (right ankle), D’Angelo Russell (right tibia contusion), Nic Claxton (right hamstring) are questionable.

For the Trail Blazers, Jerami Grant (face) and Matisse Thybulle (ankle) will be out. Robert Williams III and Deni Avdija are questionable. Williams could also be on the trade block.

The game

This will be the first match between the two teams this season.

With both teams having similar records, the Trail Blazers have a wealth of young talent that has the potential to benefit the Nets, especially while they remain undermanned.

The explosive backcourt of Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe has been one of the few bright lights in Portland’s season thus far. Both averaging 18 points a game, Simons’ scoring ability and Sharpe’s elite athleticism allow them to be a dynamic duo. The scoring these two will provide will be key against Brooklyn, who just averaged 103 PPG in their last 10 games.

If Brooklyn wants to get into the win column, they simply need to step it up offensively. Obviously, it is difficult for them without any of their key players, but things can still go their way with the players they may have available.

It all depends on who ends up available. The four players who are questionable accounted for most of the Nets offense. Otherwise, Tosan Evbuomwan, Tyrese Martin and Ziaire Williams will likely be the players who can provide scoring in catch and shoot opportunities and off the bounce. With Portland allowing teams to shoot 47% from the field against them this season, hopefully scoring won’t be an issue going into the game.

Player to watch

Two years ago, there were a number of Nets fans who believed the team would be best served by the Nets trading Mikal Bridges for the rights to the Trail Blazers’ No. 3 overall in the Draft so they could take Scott Henderson, who many thought would end up being a transformative player. It was of course one out of a host of offers Sean Marks & co. got for Bridges, who all paled with what the Nets eventually got from the team across the river.

How is Scoot? Not so good. A year and a half into his career, Henderson is on what Blazers’ Edge writer Connor Bergin called a rollercoaster, referring to his recent play.

During Portland’s 118-115 loss vs Detroit Pistonsproduced Henderson zero points (on 0-2 shooting), three assists and four turnovers in 19 minutes. He bounced back from that rough performance to put up more respectable stats against New Orleans on Wednesday and then play arguably Portland’s best game against Dallas 24 hours later. In 26 minutes, Scoot posted 20 points and four assists while playing with an aggression that helped him go 12-12 from the free throw line. Then the roller coaster ride took another sharp dive against Miami on Saturday as he struggled to find his shot — 1-6 from the field and 1-4 from the stripe — and finished with three points, three assists and two turnovers.

For the season, the 20-year-old hasn’t improved on his rookie year, averaging 10.9 points and 5.0 assists on a 40/30/77 shooting split. His head coach, Chauncey Billups, isn’t worried. “That’s one of the most impressive things about Scoot,” Billups said recently. “If you’re around him every day, you never know if he’s playing well or if he’s struggling or if he’s feeling under pressure. You never know. He always has a great smile and he’s always very positive. “

From the Vault

20 years ago, the Nets and Blazers played what was one of the worst games in NBA history, a 64-60 Nets win over the Blazers at the Meadowlands. The two teams combined for 44 field goals, the fewest in regular season history. Here are the highlights.

It can’t be that bad tonight, right?

More reading: Blazer’s Edge, SB Nation NBA