After finally earning their first win of the season on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers, the Brooklyn Nets were hoping to keep the momentum going Friday night. But things took a tough turn when they had to play without Cam Thomas, who is out again with a right hamstring injury, the same issue that limited him to just 23 games last year.
Without Thomas, the Nets’ offense couldn’t find its rhythm. They ended up losing by 18 points to the Detroit Pistons. Michael Porter Jr. tried to carry the team with 28 points, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the team’s weak defense and uneven performance. The loss dropped Brooklyn’s record to 1-8, and they remain winless at home with a 0-5 record. The Nets now sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, tied with the Washington Wizards.
Before the game, head coach Jordi Fernández confirmed that Thomas will be sidelined for at least three to four weeks while he recovers. Thomas, however, seemed positive about his situation, saying this injury isn’t as serious as the one he had last season. “It’s way different. It’s not as bad as the last one,” he said. “I dodged a bullet with that.”
The team plans to reevaluate him in a few weeks as he continues his rehab. In the meantime, the Nets will rely on their young players to step up. Brooklyn has the youngest roster in the NBA this season, with an average age of just over 23 years. They also made five first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Rookie Egor Demin, the No. 8 overall pick, started on Friday, getting an early chance to prove himself and take on more responsibility as the team works to find its footing.