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Nets’ Egor Dëmin Out at Least One Week With Bone Bruise
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- Nets’ Egor Dëmin Out at Least One Week With Bone Bruise
(Bob DeChiara/Imagn Images)
The Brooklyn Nets have received some tough news regarding Egor Dëmin after the second-year guard suffered a right leg injury during Tuesday night's overtime loss to the Boston Celtics.
Brooklyn announced Thursday that Dëmin has been diagnosed with a right leg bone bruise and will be reevaluated in one week. The 20-year-old sustained the injury during the second quarter of the Nets' 125-124 loss to Boston and did not return.
While the initial diagnosis after Tuesday's game was a right leg contusion, further evaluation revealed a bone bruise that will require some time away from the court.
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Dëmin initially downplayed the injury following the loss, telling reporters that he expected to be ready within a couple of days.
"It's nothing serious. I'll be ready to go," Dëmin said after the game. "I just got hit, got kneed in kind of like a muscle, bone area. Now it feels better than it did right away. I think I'll be ready in a couple of days."
However, the latest update means Brooklyn will have to move forward without one of its starting guards for at least the next several games.
Head coach Jordi Fernández offered some reassurance Thursday, indicating that the organization isn't concerned about the injury becoming a long-term issue.
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"He's good, he's in good spirits. Obviously, he'll want to be out there helping his teammates, but we'll reevaluate [him] in a week," Fernández said. "We're not concerned with anything long term."
Assuming Dëmin is cleared following next week's reevaluation, his earliest potential return would be on November 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. In the meantime, he is expected to miss Brooklyn's upcoming matchups against the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Charlotte Hornets.
The injury comes at a difficult time for Dëmin, who is still working to establish himself during his second NBA season. The eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 52 appearances as a rookie, shooting 39.9% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range.
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His sophomore campaign has gotten off to a slower start. Through his first four appearances, Dëmin averaged 9.7 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds while shooting just 30.8% from the field.
His best performance came Sunday against Cleveland, when he recorded 22 points, four rebounds, and six assists while knocking down five three-pointers in a 125-121 loss. It was an encouraging performance for a young guard Brooklyn needs to continue developing as part of its long-term plans.
With Dëmin sidelined, Fernández will have to make some adjustments to his backcourt rotation.
Keon Ellis is one potential candidate to take on a larger role, particularly after starting alongside Dëmin earlier in the season. The veteran guard could return to the starting lineup, depending on how Brooklyn wants to distribute its minutes.
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Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is another player worth watching. The sixth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft had an impressive finish against Boston, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime while playing a season-high 28 minutes.
However, Brown is still working his way back from a sprained ankle and remains under a minutes restriction. Fernández indicated after Tuesday's game that the rookie won't be off that restriction anytime soon.
Nolan Traoré could also benefit from Dëmin's absence after starting against Boston. The second-year guard gives Brooklyn another young option capable of handling the ball and running the offense.
Terance Mann, Ben Saraf, and Drake Powell are additional possibilities as Fernández looks for ways to fill the minutes.
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The Nets have struggled to get their season off the ground, entering Friday's matchup against Detroit still searching for their first victory. Losing Dëmin certainly doesn't make that task any easier, especially with Brown also dealing with an injury.
The encouraging news is that Brooklyn doesn't appear concerned about Dëmin's injury being a long-term problem. Still, the Nets will have to find a way to get through the next week without one of their young core pieces.
