See what the Brooklyn Nets had to say after their 118-105 loss to San Antonio.
KENNY ATKINSON
On Nwaba's impact on team this season:
“He’s been great. He’s been one of our better players. You talk about our defensive activity and our defensive improvement, he’s a big part of it. I just wish him the speediest recovery. There’s no guy on the team that did things more perfectly than him in terms of preparing for a game, preparing for a season. You feel ill when you think about it.”
On regrouping after Nwaba injury:
“When this happens, it’s kind of a shock. We’ll get it together. We’ve got a great group of guys in the locker room. We’ll get it together. Coaches will get it together. Obviously we’ll have to have support from our bench and our young guys will have to step it up and pull a little of the slack.”
On team dealing with injury in game:
“I think our guys are competitors. Once the game starts going again you compete. But I know as soon as the game ended, that was our only concern. Don’t talk about the game or anything else. Obviously everybody put their arm around him and supported him. Real tough blow for the Nets tonight.”
GARRETT TEMPLE
On lead and game getting away:
“Obviously everybody saw the second half. But I think late in that second quarter we had an 11- or 12-point lead and they cut it to six. Good momentum changer for them. Then second half, the second unit, we didn’t score. They cut into the lead, tied it up and we couldn’t get our footing back.”
On seeing Nwaba's injury:
“I thought I saw him holding his foot. I was hoping it was his ankle. One of my teammates told me it was his Achilles. It’s just bad, man. Great guy. Worked hard to get in the league. Playing probably the best he’s played since he’s been in the NBA. It’s just tough. My heart goes out to him.”
On Nwaba's impact on team:
“Energy. Defensive level. Defense. Causes havoc. And has been scoring. Getting out in transition, knocking down threes for us. He’s been playing both sides very, very efficiently. Definitely going to miss that. Hate to see that man, especially with a great guy.”
JOE HARRIS
On the fourth quarter:
“Let up a little bit. They turned some bad shots on our end, some careless turnovers on our end, into easy baskets. Good team like that, once they establish a rhythm offensively, they start flying off the screens, knocking down shots. Guys start getting in more of a rhythm, and that’s sort of what happened in the second half. The momentum definitely shifted, but a lot of it was just us, bad shots, careless turnovers leading to good offense for them.”
On Nwaba's injury:
“You never want to see that on one of your brothers. He’s part of the Nets family. It’s unfortunate. You think about all the time and work that you put in together, how hard he’s worked. You never want to see that happen. We’re all at the end of the day, even the guys on the Spurs, you never want to see injuries like that happen where something significant like that, it makes guys emotional. It’s tough on everybody. Obviously that’s where our hearts and minds are right now. It’s with David, hoping it’s not as severe as what they thing. But at the end of the day, that’s what’s most important, guys’ health. It’s one of those things you take for granted until it’s compromised.”
On team regrouping after injury:
“We’re fortunate to be in this position. We play a game. At the end of the day, this is Dave’s job, and you don’t want to see him not have the ability to work, to provide. It’s one of the things that’s extremely difficult. It weighs on you. It’s very emotional. At the end of the day, again, you try and control what you can control. As unfortunate as it is, you keep it on your mind and hope for the best.”