Claxton notched 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 32 minutes during Monday's 107-105 victory over the Pelicans.
Claxton fell one rebound shy of securing his second consecutive double-double, and he continues to be calculated on the offensive end. The big man has connected on 23 of 37 attempts from the field over his last six appearances. Claxton has now started four straight games for the Nets and is averaging 8.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 blocks in 29.8 minutes.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Making first start of season
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Claxton is starting Monday's game against the Grizzlies.
Not only is Claxton available for the second half of his team's back-to-back, but he'll enter the starting lineup for the first time this year Monday night. He's scored in double figures in three of his last four appearances and is averaging 8.3 rebounds over that stretch.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Available for second half of B2B
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Claxton (hamstring) is available for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.
Claxton's only absence this season came during the second half of Brooklyn's first back-to-back set, so it's encouraging to see the big man cleared to suit up Monday after playing 22 minutes during Sunday's loss to the Pistons. However, despite being consistently available, Claxton remains limited due to a lingering hamstring injury from training camp. He's come off the bench in all six of his appearances, playing no more than 26 minutes in any single game. With Ben Simmons (rest/back) unavailable Monday, Claxton may move into the starting lineup, but it'd be surprising to see the Nets push Claxton during the second half of a back-to-back set after they've been cautious with him thus far.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Struggles from line
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Claxton notched eight points (2-4 FG, 4-12 FT), one rebound, five assists and one steal across 22 minutes during Sunday's 106-92 loss to the Pistons.
Claxton's workload of 21.7 minutes per game is far from ideal, as the Nets continue to rely on small-ball lineups. What's more concerning, however, is Claxton's free throw shooting. Through six games, he's hitting a mere 38.9 percent from the stripe, well on pace for a career-low mark.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Near double-double in reserve role
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Claxton contributed 12 points (6-8 FG), nine rebounds, two assists and one steal across 24 minutes during Friday's 120-112 victory over the Bulls.
Claxton returned from a one-game absence Friday due to a hamstring injury, and he finished the game as the Nets' leading rebounder and third-leading scorer behind Cam Thomas (32) and Cameron Johnson (14). Claxton will continue to be the first big man off the bench for the Nets, but he could be inserted into the starting five if Ben Simmons is sidelined for games while managing his back injury.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Still coming off bench
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Claxton isn't in the starting five for Friday's game versus the Bulls, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
While Claxton is available for Friday's contest, Ben Simmons will draw another start at center. The Nets are playing it cautiously with Claxton's hamstring injury, but he should return to the starting five soon.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Good to go against Chicago
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Claxton (hamstring) is available for Friday's game versus the Bulls, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Claxton will return to action Friday after sitting out the second leg of Brooklyn's back-to-back. While the 25-year-old big man is expected to re-enter the starting lineup soon, it is unclear if that will come against Chicago.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Sitting out Wednesday
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Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said that Claxton will sit out Wednesday's game versus the Grizzlies due to hamstring injury management, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Claxton will miss the second leg of the Nets' back-to-back set after he recorded 16 points (8-9 FG), 12 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in 26 minutes in Tuesday's 144-139 overtime loss to the Nuggets before fouling out with 22 seconds left in overtime. The 25-year-old center has come off the bench in each of the Nets' first four games of the season, but his minutes have increased in every contest, and he should soon move back into the starting lineup once the hamstring injury is further in the rear-view mirror.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Double-double off bench
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Claxton supplied 10 points (5-6 FG), 11 rebounds, one assist and two blocks over 22 minutes during Sunday's 115-102 win over the Bucks.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez told reporters before Sunday's game that Claxton would see more playing time than he did over the first two games of the regular season. Claxton's 22 minutes were only two more than he logged during Friday's game against the Magic, but the 25-year-old center was productive during his on-court time and he registered his first double-double of the season. Claxton should serve as the Nets' first big man off the bench while Day'Ron Sharpe (hamstring) is sidelined.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Operating off bench again
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Claxton (hamstring) will come off the bench during Sunday's game against the Bucks, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Claxton will come off the bench for a third straight game, but coach Jordi Fernandez said the big man would see more minutes than he has in the last two games. Claxton has played 15 and 20 minutes, respectively, during the first two games of the season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him closer to 25 against Milwaukee even though he's not in the starting lineup. Brooklyn will start Ben Simmons, Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith for a third straight game.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Will see more minutes Sunday
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Coach Jordi Fernandez said Claxton (hamstring) will see an increase in minutes during Sunday's game against the Bucks, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Due to a lingering hamstring injury from training camp, Claxton has operated off the bench to start the season, playing 15 and 20 minutes, respectively, during the first two games. It's unclear when Claxton will return to the starting lineup, but he has avoided a setback and is slowly seeing his minute restriction eased. Based on the current trajectory, it's safe to assume Claxton will see closer to 25 minutes against the Bucks. While the big man has struggled to make a strong fantasy impact in his limited role, he has recorded at least one steal and one block in back-to-back games.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Still operating off bench
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Claxton (hamstring) is available but will come off the bench during Friday's game against the Magic, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Coach Jordi Fernandez said Claxton will play more Friday after seeing only 15 minutes off the bench before being ejected from the season-opening loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. However, Brooklyn's big man will remain on a minutes restriction for the foreseeable future. In his limited action, Claxton posted seven points (3-4 FG, 1-4 FT), five rebounds, a steal and a block against Atlanta.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Expected to play more Friday
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Coach Jordi Fernandez said Friday that Claxton (hamstring) will see an increase in playing time Friday against the Magic as the team works him back from injury, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Claxton was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul during Wednesday's game against the Hawks and saw only 15 minutes of action. However, Fernandez believes the big man will continue to see more playing time as the club works him back, and he will likely play 20-plus minutes against the Magic.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Ejected Wednesday
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Claxton was ejected after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game versus Atlanta, John Hollinger of The Athletic reports.
Claxton was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul in an attempt to block Dyson Daniels' transition layup as a result of swiping the third-year guard across the neck while he was airborne. Claxton and Daniels escalated the conflict and exited the court area, so it's possible that a fine or further punishment is coming for Claxton.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: On minutes restriction
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Claxton (hamstring) is cleared for Wednesday's contest versus Atlanta but will come off the bench with limited minutes, per coach Jordi Fernandez, John Hollinger of The Athletic reports.
Claxton will be ramped into game action slowly. However, Brooklyn has limited options behind him with Day'Ron Sharpe (hamstring) amid a multi-week absence. Noah Clowney could see an uptick in minutes while Ben Simmons could also log playing time at center.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Good to go Wednesday
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Claxton (hamstring) will be available for Wednesday's game against the Hawks, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Despite missing the entire preseason, the Nets were always optimistic about Claxton suiting up on Opening Night. Given Brooklyn's lack of frontcourt depth, it will be interesting to see if they place any restrictions on Claxton as he works his way back into form.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Expected to play Wednesday
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Claxton (hamstring) is expected to play Wednesday against the Hawks for Opening Night, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
Claxton was held out of the preseason, but the Nets have always expressed optimism about his availability for Opening Night. Nets coach Jordi Fernandez is likely to have big plans for his starting center this season, as Claxton agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension back in June.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Won't play Friday
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Claxton (hamstring) won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Raptors, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
Claxton is trending in the right direction, coach Jordi Fernandez told Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com, but they won't rush the center back for the preseason finale. That said, the Nets expect Claxton to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Hawks next Wednesday.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Officially out
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Claxton (hamstring) has been ruled out for Wednesday's preseason game against the 76ers, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Coach Jordi Fernandez had previously said he'd like Claxton to play in at least one preseason game, and the big man's final chance will come Friday versus Toronto. Claxton's hamstring has been reported as minor, but it'd still be encouraging to see him get at least some work in before Brooklyn opens the regular season against the Hawks on Oct. 23.
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Nets' Nic Claxton: Not in starting lineup
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Claxton (hamstring) isn't starting Wednesday's preseason game against the 76ers, Sam DiGiovanni of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Brooklyn hasn't officially ruled Claxton out yet, but his omission from the starting lineup suggests he'll remain sidelined while dealing with a minor hamstring injury. His last chance to suit up before the regular season will come Friday versus Toronto.