The Nets start the second half of the season without Nic Claxton.
He sprained his right ankle during Tuesday’s practice and is out for the Nets’ game against the Cavaliers Thursday night in Cleveland.
It will be only the fourth game Claxton misses this season.
Day’Ron Sharpe started in his place when he missed the final game before the All-Star break, a home loss to the Pacers.
Claxton is averaging 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game this year.
The Nets sent rookies Ben Saraf and Josh Minott to the G-League.
Saraf has had the slowest start to his career among the five first-round picks, bouncing back and forth between the G-League and NBA roster.
In 22 games with the Nets, he is averaging 5.1 points per game on 33.6 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent shooting from three-point range.
He was called back up to the NBA roster in late January and played 10 games with the team before the All-Star break.
Minott was acquired from the Celtics for cash before the trade deadline.
The rookie backcourt of Egor Dëmin and Nolan Traore has built chemistry and shown promise as the season has progressed.
They have a big test on Thursday in the Cavaliers backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
“They have to know the personnel, the trends and how important an opportunity is to play against players of that caliber,” coach Jordi Fernández said on Wednesday. “They have to be ready for the challenge.”
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