In terms of health, the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs are headed in opposite directions. The Spurs are expected to be without several starters as they travel to Brooklyn for a Thursday night matchup while the Nets are hoping to have a pretty full roster to try and win the series against San Antonio.
The Spurs were already expecting to miss Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard, but now it appears both Tony Parker and Tim Duncan will also not be appearing on the court. Parker left Wednesday's game with tightness in his lower back and did not return. The Spurs got the win over Washington despite being shorthanded, but they had to rally from a 17-point deficit to do so. San Antonio has not struggled without Parker in the lineup, winning all four games he has missed this season.
The Nets certainly have some injury issues of their own but are expecting to get several players back into the lineup for a second-half season run. Deron Williams is healthy and put up 21 points in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Joe Johnson, Andrei Kirilenko and Andray Blatche all missed that matchup, but are expected to return against the Spurs.
Brooklyn won 10 of 11 games in January as Jason Kidd picked up monthly coaching honors. However, prior to the win over Philadelphia, the team had lost three straight games. Facing the Spurs could be a good way to get a win streak started. Johnson, who is currently averaging 15.6 points per game, scored 19 against the Spurs in their last meeting.
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