PHILADELPHIA — Nic Claxton made his return to the court Friday after missing the past three games. But he acknowledged his back injury is “long-term,” and admitted it’s going to need management over the course of the season.
“Everybody always manages something, but this I’ll probably be managing for a while,” said Claxton, who described the situation as fluctuating.
“Yeah, I mean, it was just the summer. I initially hurt my back in the summer. So, my back has been lingering since then and it’s definitely been frustrating. It’s always a different challenge. Of course, the back is tough because it controls everything you do, pretty much. But it’s just another challenge. So, I’ve just gotta lock in and be ready to hoop.”
Claxton had 12 points and eight rebounds in Friday’s loss at Philadelphia, coming off the bench due to a minutes restriction, according to coach Jordi Fernandez.
The center missed the prior three games due to a lower-back sprain that he suffered in a 139-114 loss against Boston on Nov. 13.
But Claxton clarified that was merely aggravating an initial injury that he’d picked up in the offseason, one that eventually required an epidural.
“It’s like a long-term thing, but it’s gonna take a while for it to feel a lot better. Just strengthening my core, glutes and everything,” Claxton said.
He said he was unsure if he’d be on a minutes limit.
“I don’t really know. This year has been kind of up and down. Just being ready for whatever minutes that I’m able to play, being ready to go and adjusting to that.”
Fernandez was noncommittal about how long the Nets might have to manage Claxton’s back, or if it might linger all season.
“The team, the medical team, and performance, they’ve been addressing it. And obviously if he plays, it’s because we believe he is 100 percent or 200 percent to play,” Fernandez said.
Cam Thomas had 18 points but shot 6 of 15 with seven turnovers.
He’d been listed as probable with lower-back tightness, but revealed he’s also been under the weather.
“It’s just sickness,” Thomas said. “I’m good enough to play. So if I’m out there, I just gotta put my best foot forward and play to the best of my abilities. [If] I wasn’t good enough to play, I wouldn’t be out there.”
Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith were available after being elevated from questionable to probable, the latter with a sprained left ankle.
Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot) and Day’Ron Sharpe (left hamstring strain) were out injured, while Jacky Cui, Jaylen Martin and Dariq Whitehead were with G-League Long Island.
Joel Embiid (knee injury management), Paul George (left knee injury) and Kyle Lowry (right hip strain) were out for the 76ers.