Nets Notes: Lottery Prospects, Evbuomwan, Simmons, Russell, Johnson, Watford

From a draft standpoint, the Nets won by losing Sunday night at Utah, but the players weren’t happy with the outcome, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. They scored the final six points of regulation to force overtime, but saw the game slip away as Isaiah Collier drove for a nearly uncontested layup in the final seconds.

“I know this is kind of like a rebuild situation, but we’ve got to go in there like we want to win regardless of what the front office is expecting,” Ben Simmons said.

The Nets have been on a downward trajectory lately that has coincided with management’s decisions to trade away Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith as part of a long-term rebuilding project. They’re 2-10 in their last 12 games and have moved from 15th to sixth in the lottery standings over the past month.

“We should have won but we just gotta keep chopping,” Nic Claxton added. “We’ve been losing a lot, and everybody’s tired of losing. They sat out all their players and we still lost.” 

There’s more on the Nets:

• Tosan Evbuomwan has been a tremendous addition since signing a two-way contract at the start of the month, Lewis states in a separate story. The rookie forward scored a career-high 22 points Sunday night and was often on the court late in the overtime contest. Evbuomwan is averaging 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds through his first four NBA games. “Amazing … always under control,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Looks like a guy that has been there before and he’s 23. Very happy to see him, keep working with him, keep developing him. He’s doing his job.” 
• Simmons left the game midway through overtime after exceeding his minutes limit, Lewis adds. He played more than 31 minutes, which is more than the team’s medical staff wants to see considering his recent physical history. “Ben, I’m sure that if I asked him, he wanted to be in, but at the same time, we know where we started this summer,” Fernandez said. “We know where we are at right now. We like the progression, and we’re going to keep doing that. We’re going to do what’s best for him, his body, first and then for the team.” Simmons hasn’t been cleared to play in back-to-back games and will likely sit out Tuesday at Portland or Wednesday against the Clippers.
• Fernandez couldn’t offer definite return dates for D’Angelo Russell, who missed his fourth straight game with a right shin contusion, or Cameron Johnson, who sat out for the fifth straight time with a sprained right ankle, Lewis adds in another piece. “Yeah, they’ve been doing their work and they’re day-to-day,” Fernandez said. “But we’re happy with what we’re seeing and how they’re working. Obviously they’re with the group. So is Trendon (Watford). And it’s just good to have them around and have some sweat equity and see them work.” Watford, who has a strained left hamstring, isn’t expected to return to action during the current road trip.