The Nets will only go one game without Jordi Fernández.
On Tuesday, the head coach was back after suffering an illness that kept him away from coaching the Nets on Sunday against the Bucks. It made for an interesting game-day experience.
If he was around his two kids, Fernández was wearing a mask. If he wasn’t around them, he was in his designated section of the house to prevent the illness from spreading.
Nevertheless, when it was game time, he was in front of the television with a mask on while surrounded by his kids and wife, Kelsey.
“All four of us were cheering for our guys and the coaches and everybody. So, we were sending a lot of love this way,” he said after practice.
In his place stood assistant Steve Hetzel, who led the Nets to a booming 127-82 victory over the Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo. It made for the Nets’ biggest blowout win in team history and Fernández couldn’t help but feel proud.
“Everybody’s response and everybody’s positive energy and willingness to do the right thing…” he said. “Nine players with double digits, like a lot of growth, a lot of good development — a lot of things we want to do consistently.”
When asked if he was surprised how well the Nets played on both ends of the floor, Fernández let out an admission.
“No, but if I had to miss another game and [they] play that well, I’ll do whatever it takes for the group,” he said jokingly.
Haywood Highsmith (knee) was shooting foul shots at the Nets practice facility on Tuesday.
Fernández didn’t have an update on his health but predicted one by the end of the week.
The Nets assigned Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore to Long Island on Monday.
Traore, the last of the five rookies to try to crack the rotation, was only with Brooklyn for two games.
He didn’t score a point, shooting a combined 0-for-3, across nine minutes per game.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
