E.J.

Liddell

The Nets will finish the season without their starting frontcourt, as Clowney and Claxton remain out. E.J. Liddell and Trevon Scott started Friday’s loss to the Bucks and should do the same on Sunday, with the latter logging 41 minutes.

Liddell was given his marching orders after delivering a forearm to the face of Bucks’ center Jericho Sims early in the fourth quarter. Liddell played 32 minutes, finishing with 14 points (5-of-12 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, one steal and one three-pointer.

The Nets will be without most of their usual starters and key reserves. so Brooklyn will have to go deep down the bench to find available options at power forward and center. E.J. Liddell and Chaney Johnson could be the next men up in the rotation.

Liddell was one of Brooklyn’s bright spots on Thursday. Despite the loss, he drained a few triples en route to his second 20-point performance of the season. His work on the glass led to a team-high in boards, as well, in his 37 minutes on the floor. Liddell has put together three straight double-digit scoring performances after doing so just once in the games prior. He’s trending in the right direction as the season nears its conclusion.

Clowney’s absence on Thursday will mark his third straight, as the Nets’ 2025-26 season nears its conclusion. The third-year forward is having a career-best season in terms of scoring, rebounding, and passing, while serving as mostly a full-time starter. While sidelined, E.J. Liddell could continue to log heavy minutes.

Liddell followed up his 15-point performance Sunday against the Wizards with 21 points in the win over the Bucks on Tuesday. A former second-round pick in 2022 by the Pelicans, Liddell is making an impression on a two-way contract with the Nets as the season comes to a close.

Clowney will remain out for a second straight game with this ankle injury. E.J. Liddell should get another start after he scored 15 points in 30 minutes against the Wizards on Sunday.

The Nets have three new starters for Sunday’s game. Wilson, Liddell and Johnson are in, filling the voids left by Terance Mann, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton.

Wilson is on track to play Tuesday night after sitting out Sunday’s win over the Kings. His return may push E.J. Liddell out of the rotation after he logged 21 minutes against Sacramento.

Wolf sprained his left ankle when he landed on the foot of teammate Terance Mann during the second quarter of Sunday’s game. Requiring assistance to get back to the locker room, the rookie is out for at least the rest of the night. Chaney Johnson and E.J. Liddell have been the reserve frontcourt players, and the Nets will likely go small for stretches as well.