Nets' Trendon Watford reacts to game-winning performance after return from injury
11/20/2024 03:28 PM
The Brooklyn Nets needed some late-game magic with leading scorer Cam Thomas sidelined Tuesday vs. the Charlotte Hornets. Trendon Watford delivered. The 23-year-old, playing in his second game of the season, scored on back-to-back possessions in the final minute to seal a 116-115 victory.
Back-to-back clutch buckets from Trendon Watford in his second game of the season. pic.twitter.com/pMG9HqANBf
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 20, 2024
Fernandez chose to close with Watford over Ben Simmons during the win, the Nets’ sixth of the season.
Trendon Watford sends message to Jordi Fernandez during Nets win
Watford was playing on a minutes restriction after missing the team’s first 14 games due to a hamstring injury. However, he told his head coach to let him push through it with the game on the line.
“My adrenaline was out the roof, honestly. I told Coach, ‘Just let me rock. Just let me rock’,” Watford said. “I think the restriction was set at 18 [minutes]. I think I played 19 and three seconds, so we’re good. But I’m just happy to be out there.”
Trendon Watford said he told Jordi Fernandez to let him play through a minutes restriction during tonight's 4th quarter:
"I told coach, 'Just let me rock. I'm good.' I think the restriction was set at 18 minutes and I played 19 and three seconds… So I'm glad he stuck with me." pic.twitter.com/KqBSuo2CUN
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 20, 2024
Watford told ClutchPoints on Sunday that he views himself as a “Swiss army knife” for the Nets. Standing 6-foot-8 with impressive ball handling and a soft touch around the rim, he played every position on the court during his first three NBA seasons.
The LSU product flashed that versatility on Tuesday, posting 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks. He was the only player on Brooklyn’s bench to finish with a positive plus-minus, with the team winning his minutes by eight.
“I think just watching the game, he was very impactful with his drives, his control. He’s a big body. It’s really hard to switch on him because he’ll make the right play. He’s able to score. His competitiveness and his personality are contagious. So [I’m] very happy that he had the game that he had,” Fernandez said. “But the most important thing, to me, is that [readiness] is the definition of a team.”
“Our medical and performance team worked really hard to get him back healthy. We have trust in the group because they do a great job, and this is the result. I think that it’s a win for everybody. For the team, for Trendon, and for medical performance. I think that’s a cool thing to see out there.”
After signing a $2.7 million qualifying offer with Brooklyn this summer, Watford is playing for a contract this season. The second-year Net will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The post Nets’ Trendon Watford reacts to game-winning performance after return from injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.
