Nets Guard Egor Dëmin Leaves Game With Leg Contusion
Dëmin downplayed the injury, stating he expects to be ready to play in a few days.
Egor Dëmin was forced to exit Tuesday's overtime loss to the Boston Celtics with a right leg contusion, though the Nets guard expressed optimism about a quick return.
“I’ll be good,” Dëmin said after the game. “I mean, it’s nothing serious, so I’ll be ready to go.”
Dëmin left the game in the first half after appearing to make contact with Paul George while defending a drive. The guard was seen limping and headed to the locker room, and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
“I just got kneed in the muscle/bone area… Now it feels better than it did right then. I think I’ll be ready in a couple of days,” Dëmin stated. “It was when [George] was driving by me, we ended up hitting each other’s legs kind of, yeah.”
Despite the injury, the Nets' defensive effort against the Celtics was a point of focus. Boston, the NBA's best 3-point shooting team, was held to 11 of 41 from beyond the arc, a significant improvement for Brooklyn's defense which had been struggling in that area.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández acknowledged the improved defensive performance, stating, “I’m happy with the defense, but regardless of [whether] the shots went in or not.” He added that while it was an encouraging sign, the team is still in a process of improvement and learning, having only played four games.
The game also marked the first time the Nets faced Boston since the Celtics' trade of Jaylen Brown, a move that significantly altered the Eastern Conference landscape. The Nets were reportedly among the teams that listened to offers for Brown, but ultimately Boston chose to trade him to the Philadelphia 76ers.