Overview
- Thomas logged 21 points in 23 minutes on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-7 from deep, in the Nets’ 120-96 loss to the Rockets on Jan. 1.
- Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised Thomas’s scoring but said he needs better defense and playmaking, emphasizing a broader impact.
- Despite Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin, and Terance Mann being out, Brooklyn started rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wolf while keeping Thomas on the bench.
- After the game, Thomas declined to express frustration about his role, replying “No comment” when asked about coming off the bench.
- Durant publicly called for a team to trust Thomas and build around him, as the 24-year-old scores 21.3 points per game since his Dec. 27 return on a minutes restriction and is set for unrestricted free agency after taking the qualifying offer.