Brooklyn Nets: No Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in Detroit

It was hoped Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson could see his first game action of the new season on Wednesday, but he has been ruled out.

The Brooklyn Nets had been hopeful that injured forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson could play in Wednesday night season opener against the Detroit Pistons, but according to the latest reports, he is now out for the game.

Hollis-Jefferson did not play during the preseason and only began participating in full practices last week after straining his left adductor, a muscle that joins the hip and thigh, during a charity game in early August in China.

He had been listed as questionable for the game in Detroit, until Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported Wednesday afternoon that Hollis-Jefferson had been downgraded to “out.”

Hollis-Jefferson is no stranger to missing time with injury during his time with the Nets. He missed 14 games last season, primarily with a groin injury, and was down for 53 games as a rookie in 2015-16 with a fractured ankle.

He started 59 games a season ago and his absence will put the Nets in a pinch up front, with DeMarre Carroll out indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his right ankle and two-way contract player Alan Williams still sidelined with a sprained right ankle.

Jared Dudley will likely get the start Wednesday night, as he had started at the 4 in each of the final two preseason games, but with Detroit’s big tandem of Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin up front, Brooklyn may look to deploy some bigger combinations up front.

Kenneth Faried is available after missing much of the preseason with soreness in his left ankle and coach Kenny Atkinson toyed with playing starting center Jarrett Allen and backup Ed Davis together during the preseason as well.

Griffin is a stretch threat at the 4 for the Pistons, as well as a playmaker, but can also still do damage inside and is a big body that can overwhelm smaller defenders, as Treveon Graham of the Nets learned on one possession in the Oct. 8 preseason game between the two clubs.

Besides Hollis-Jefferson and Williams, the Nets will be without guards Allen Crabbe (sprained left ankle) and Shabazz Napier (strained right hamstring). Crabbe was injured in the Oct. 8 preseason tilt in Detroit, while Napier did not play at all in the preseason after being injured during a practice.