Overview
- Head coach Jordi Fernández said Thomas is expected to play Saturday after roughly eight weeks out with a left hamstring strain, and he was removed from the injury report following full-contact work.
- The Nets have not announced whether he will start or come off the bench, and any minutes limit or usage plan has not been specified.
- Brooklyn’s defense has surged during his absence, improving from a league-worst rate before Nov. 5 to a top-10 mark since, with December rating reported as the NBA’s best.
- Before the injury, the 24-year-old averaged 21.4 points over eight games, and the Nets were 0-7 in his appearances to start the season.
- Thomas is playing on a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer and is set for unrestricted free agency next summer, with reports noting a no-trade provision this season.