Cam Johnson was in the midst of one of his better offensive stretches of the season before suffering a right ankle sprain in the first half of a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers last Tuesday.
The sharpshooting forward has missed three straight games since, but was seen participating in light contact drills with teammates Trendon Watford, Keita Bates-Diop and other Nets staffers after Tuesday’s practice in Brooklyn.
“I think he’s almost healed, so I think he’s going to be back soon, that’s what I’m hearing,” Nic Claxton said.
Johnson did not travel with the Nets to Detroit, Charlotte or Cleveland, but will join the team for the final two games of its current six-game road trip, which has gotten off to a 1-2 start following Sunday’s 120-101 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brooklyn will face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday and the Indiana Pacers on Saturday before ending the road trip against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
Interim head coach Kevin Ollie said Johnson’s status for the Nets’ next two games has yet to be determined. But according to Johnson’s teammates, he seems to be trending in the right direction.
“He’s feeling good,” Dennis Smith Jr. said. “He told us that earlier he’s feeling good, he’s back so that’s going to be a plus for us on this trip.”
Johnson, who has averaged 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45.3% from the field and 39.6% from 3-point range, has appeared in 49 of 65 games for the Nets this season. He had started five straight games prior to his latest injury, averaging 17 points on 49.1/47.1/86.7 splits, including a 29-point eruption in a critical game against the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 29.
“I mean, [his injury is] unfortunate, but I think he’s handled it very, very well,” Ollie said. “I know he wants to be out on the court and help us win and help our team, keep building this culture that we’re starting to establish and I think he wants to be out there. So just him understanding that injuries are a part of it and how you bounce back, how you respond is about being a pro. And I think he’s doing that to the best of his abilities, following his rehab regimen. I think he’s ready to go. Hopefully he’ll be able to play well [in our final 17 regular season games] and more after that.”
