Joe Johnson is hoping to play Friday night following his three-game absence due to a sore left heel, but the Nets guard’s status against the Mavericks remained undetermined Thursday.
“I want to say yeah, but I don’t want to jump out on a limb,” Johnson said. “We’re still trying to do the necessary things to get me back out there as soon as possible.”
Johnson, who this week said he expected to play tonight, said the heel has improved but not healed. Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said Johnson appeared to be fine in practice yesterday, but that doesn’t indicate he’ll play tonight.
“He looked decent. But again, similar to the other day, see how he wakes up [today], what it feels like and then it’ll be the same two-part thing,” Carlesimo said. “He’ll feel good in the morning and then when he loosens up before the game. But we’re hopeful.”
* Guard MarShon Brooks (sprained right wrist) did not practice, and Carlesimo was unsure of his status for tonight.
“I’d say questionable, but I don’t think they know. It was really sore [Wednesday] and [yesterday],” Carlesimo said. “It’s going to be how he wakes up [today] and how he feels.”
* Forward Tornike Shengelia was assigned to the NBDL’s Springfield Armor for the third time this season.
* Forward Keith Bogans on Stephen Curry’s 54-point game against the Knicks: “My second year in the league, I was in Charlotte. So I got a chance to watch him in high school. I knew that kid could play a long time ago. All the way back then.”