Joe Harris made his return to the court for the Nets on Friday in his first regular-season game since last Nov. 14.
“It’s great. It was just great to see him on the market. He’s a crucial player for us,” coach Steve Nash said after the Nets’ 109-105 victory over the Raptors at Barclays Center. “The quicker we will get him back as much as his best is essential for our group. the characteristics he brings as a teammate, that elite shooting, the fight, the physicality he plays with is so essential. Getting him on the market and getting a game under his belt was really essential, let alone giving us depth and talent.”
Harris missed most of last season following a left ankle injury that required two surgeries. After a 15-minute cameo within the preseason opener, he was sidelined by a sore left foot — until his comeback Friday.
The veteran forward had three points in 17:51. He shot 1-for-3, including 1-for-2 from 3-point range, and added two rebounds.
“Oh, yeah, it was amazing. The fun atmosphere, great team win. So I feel it was an ideal, perfect game to come back back,” said Harris, who added that his ankle held up fantastic.
“Yeah, the whole lot felt great. I used to be definitely somewhat winded, the lungs were burning. But you understand, that’s to be expected. And just keep constructing from here.”
Center Nic Claxton (19 points, Nets-high 11 rebounds, 4 blocks) has notched double-doubles in consecutive games for the primary time in his profession.
“Just more comfortable, more confident. Just attempting to get back to young Clax. Just being myself,” Claxton said. “We’d like other guys to step up. We are able to’t have Kyrie [Irving] and KD [Kevin Durant] attempting to do the whole lot. Just playing my game and my teammates are doing an excellent job of instilling confidence in me.”
Claxton, who remains to be just 23 years old, got out within the open court and even finished a transition finger roll on a pass from Durant.
“They know [I can do it] now. A couple of guys know cause they saw me a few years ago once I was doing that more. It’s something I’ll proceed to work on and I still have it. It felt good to bring it out today once I got in transition. … Nobody can stop me within the open court.”
Claxton even broke out a Euro step for a spectacular play. The Nets are encouraging him to only be consistent. That has been the most important a part of his growth, which his teammates wish to see proceed.
“I had easy advice for him tonight, if we’re not seeing you play like that, as hard, offensively and defensively, then we got to carry you accountable to that standard,” Irving said. “And he knew it.”