Inside The Nets

Cam Johnson returns for Nets vs. Magic after three-game sprain inactivity

Cam saw an immediate high exposure in his comeback game for Brooklyn.

Peter Sunjic

© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Upon taking his time to recover from a right ankle sprain, Brooklyn Nets power forward Cam Johnson made his return for the team's Wednesday road clash against the Orlando Magic.

Cam is back in action

Cam missed the Nets' past three away games as he nursed the ankle injury he sustained last March 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers. He joined the continuation of the team's lengthy road trip upon being made “probable” to play ahead of their matchup against the Magic.

In his first game since last week, Cam came off the bench and logged 29 minutes of play. He finished with 13 points, three boards, and shot 4-of-7 from the field in Brooklyn's 114-106 losing effort.

Interestingly and just based on his minute exposure, Johnson didn't flash any significant signs of rustiness and immobility against Orlando as he even flushed a thunderous two-handed throwdown at the 11:37 mark of the second period.

A frustrating loss in his return

Despite the delight in his play from three-game inactivity, Cam is still generally upset about how his return turned out to be a disappointing loss for Brooklyn.

The Nets buried themselves by bricking their threes from beyond the arc. The group only sank a lowly seven shots out of 26 attempts, with Johnson connecting two of them. And amid their inconsistencies, they meanwhile allowed the Magic for a 51.9 percent field goal rate (40-77) and 43.8 percent three-point shooting (14-32) sizzling offensive display.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Johnson said of the Nets’ shooting and effort inconsistencies. “It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating to be a part of. It’s frustrating to watch. And there have been times where we’ve cleaned it up but we just need to be more consistent and just got to be consistent with our effort, our energy, and just have the unselfish spirits about us.”

Nic Claxton assesses his 2023/24 season for the Brooklyn Nets

Published
Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

Home/News