Michael Porter Jr. is probable Sunday against his former Nuggets team after missing the past two games with an illness.
Cam Thomas is available, but starting center Nic Claxton still is out for personal reasons.
He ranks fourth among all centers with 131 assists on a career-high 4.2 per game, and the Nets sorely miss his playmaking.
Day’Ron Sharpe is in line for a second straight start in lieu of Claxton.
He had 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 30 minutes Friday in Washington, his first start of the season.
Most of all, Sharpe played with his customary ferocity, despite having to pace himself for a longer stretch.
“Yeah, one thing we know is Day’Ron is going to play extremely hard. And you know going from the minutes he’s played to pretty much 30 minutes, you know your body has to adjust to that,” coach Jordi Fernández. “So it’s a great opportunity for him to play those minutes. But also being careful with that.
“[After] the shorter stints, I try to keep watching how he’s reacted. And rebounding — nine. I still think he could have got more and a little more efficient, but I really, really liked how hard he played, how engaged he was and how he took advantage of the opportunity. So, very proud of him.”
Sharpe’s 60.1 percent shooting and 64.4 true shooting percentage are both career bests.
Rookie Nolan Traore had a dozen points against the Wizards on 4-of-7 shooting with five assists, two blocks and a steal in a bounce-back outing.
After being chastised by Fernández for forcing some ill-advised pull-up 3-pointers the night before against Houston and not using his speed and downhill ability, Traore got back to attacking the paint.
The result was the best game of his career. He crossed over Wizards center Alex Sarr and finished high off the glass in a highlight play.
“I just want him to take the right shot every time. So I don’t know if it was a 3 or not. I never told him to not take 3s. I want him to take the right shot. I want him to make the right play,” Fernández said. “I want him to shoot 3s if he’s open and take good ones. For sure, he can shoot. He can shoot 20 if he wants.”
Nikola Jokic’s injury may have upended the MVP race — and will mean Nets fans won’t see him playing Sunday at Barclays Center.
The Nuggets star suffered a bone bruise in his left knee Monday and will be out for the 3:30 p.m. tilt.
Brooklyn also won’t see Cam Johnson (right knee, bone bruise) or Jonas Valanciunas (right calf). They traded Johnson in the offseason for Porter and Denver’s unprotected 2032 first-round pick.
Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) and Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) are both questionable. Jamal Murray (left ankle sprain) is probable.
