Jan. 10, 2026, 6:17 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets have not been having the kind of January they were hoping for after a dominant December that showed what the team could be on both ends of the court. Brooklyn has won just one game since the calendar turned to 2026, but heading into Sunday’s game at the Memphis Grizzlies, the Nets could have an even harder time winning.
The Nets announced on Saturday that forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Ziaire Williams are out along with rookie forward Drake Powell for Sunday’s matchup at the Grizzlies. Porter is out due to rest, Williams is dealing with an illness, and Powell is sitting out due to what the team is describing as left knee injury management after Sunday’s 121-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Porter is coming off one of his worst games this season as he finished with 18 points on 7-of-20 shooting against the Clippers, including 0-for-9 from three-point land. Not only did Porter score nearly eight points below his average for this year, but it was the first game all season in which he didn’t make at least one shot from behind the three-point line.
Williams, who didn’t play Sunday against Los Angeles due to a Coach’s Decision, may be the odd man out in some games after the return of Cam Thomas, given that the former Stanford Cardinal has not played in three of Brooklyn’s last seven games. Ultimately, Williams is one of the players that potentially may have sat then bench on Sunday against the Grizzlies, but the hope is that the illness will not keep him inactive for too long.
Powell, who did not score while putting up one rebound, one assist, and one block in 15 minutes against the Clippers, missed one game earlier in the season due to left knee injury management so this isn’t a new condition for the rookie. With Porter out of the lineup, players like rookie Egor Demin, center Nic Claxton, and guard Cam Thomas will have to step up if they’re going to beat the Grizzlies, healthy or not.
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