The Brooklyn Nets head across the East River with a boost and a question mark. Cam Thomas has been removed from the injury report and is expected to play against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, while center Day’Ron Sharpe is questionable with an illness. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

It’s a timely lift for a 12-29 Nets team trying to stabilize after Monday’s 126-117 loss to the Suns. Across the floor, the 25-18 Knicks arrive with a clean injury sheet, a home crowd behind them, and a chance to tighten their grip on the Eastern Conference’s upper tier.

Cam Thomas cleared to return vs Knicks

After sitting Monday for left hamstring injury management, Thomas is good to go for Wednesday. As one report put it, the Nets chose to rest him on the second night of their back-to-back, and he’s now “removed from the injury report.” Another note was even more direct: “Thomas (hamstring) will return to the lineup on Wednesday night against the New York Knicks.”

Thomas has spent much of the season managing a tricky left hamstring, his fourth issue with that muscle in the last year. He missed nearly two months earlier in the season, and Brooklyn has taken a slow-and-steady path since his return.

Minutes limit remains part of the plan

The Nets have made it clear that Thomas will stay on a minutes restriction for now. Head coach Jordi Fernandez laid out the approach: “Right now, we’re happy where he is, with the minutes he’s playing with the production… We need him to stay in those minutes a little longer, because… what’s most important right now is his body.”

That caution shapes expectations for Wednesday. Thomas has shifted into a bench-led role, and his playing time has been managed tightly since he returned to action.

“Let him cook, but keep him healthy. The Knicks won’t wait around.”

What Thomas has given the Nets lately

Thomas’ scoring pops in bursts, and recent splits show why the Nets value his punch. In January, he’s averaging 12.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 23.4 minutes. Over his last seven, he’s up to 16.1 points in just 21.9 minutes. In the most recent three games he’s suited up, he’s hit 21.3 points per game in only 20.7 minutes.

There’s also been a rough patch: 9.8 points on 31.4% from the field across another six-game window. Those swings are part minutes, part rhythm, and part health. The Nets will take any version of Thomas that bends a defense, even if they need to keep him on a shorter leash.

Day’Ron Sharpe questionable; Knicks list no injuries

Sharpe’s status is worth watching in the lead-up to tip. The big man is questionable due to illness, which could thin Brooklyn’s frontcourt rotation if he can’t go. The Knicks, by contrast, have no players listed on their final injury report.

If Sharpe sits, the Nets may lean more on small-ball looks or extra minutes for their reserve bigs. Against a physical Knicks squad, that can change rebounding battles and paint touches on both ends.

“If Sharpe can’t play, second-chance points could decide this.”

Form guide: both teams coming off losses

Brooklyn fell 126-117 to the Suns on Monday. Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Ziaire Williams added 15 points and two rebounds. The Nets showed fight late but couldn’t get enough stops when it mattered.

New York also dropped its Monday game, losing to the Mavericks. Karl-Anthony Towns posted a strong line with 22 points, 18 rebounds, and four assists, while Jalen Brunson matched his 22 with six dimes. The Knicks will expect a clean response at home.

Why Thomas’ return matters for Brooklyn’s offense

Even on a minutes limit, Thomas pulls defenders and forces help. That opens kick-outs, cutters, and paint touches the Nets sometimes struggle to generate. His downhill game gives Brooklyn a go-to option for end-of-clock shots and short bursts to break a drought.

There’s a balance, though. During the stretch when Thomas was out, the Nets found a defensive groove. In December, they posted the league’s best defensive rating, with rookie Noah Clowney starting and setting a tone around the rim. Brooklyn wants both: the scoring pop with Thomas and the connected defense they grew when he was sidelined.

“Can the Nets keep the December defense and still feed Cam? That’s the season right there.”

Rotation notes and supporting cast

Beyond Thomas and Sharpe, the Nets’ picture is steady. Egor Demin has returned from a plantar fascia issue, adding a guard option who can handle, pass, and space. Haywood Highsmith remains out following knee surgery, trimming some wing depth and switchability.

Expect the Nets to continue pairing Thomas with second-unit groups where his shot creation can lead. If he catches fire, Fernandez can stretch the shift, but the team will keep the bigger goal in mind: building up his minutes without setbacks.

Matchup keys vs the Knicks

• Rebounding margin: With Sharpe iffy, gang-rebounding is a must to blunt New York’s physicality.
• Bench punch: Thomas’ scoring against the Knicks’ second unit could swing a quarter.
• Late-game execution: In a tight Garden game, shot-making and free throws matter.
• Protect the paint: Keep drivers in front and tag rollers to avoid easy baskets.

Schedule, stakes, and what comes next

Wednesday’s tip at 7:30 p.m. ET gives the Nets a spotlight chance to steady a tough month and to measure their young core in a hostile setting. For the Knicks, it’s an opportunity to bank a home win and sharpen their rhythm with a healthy roster.

For Brooklyn, the top line is simple: Cam Thomas is back. Keep him healthy, get him comfortable, and see if his scoring can bring balance to a team that found its defense in December. Whether Sharpe suits up might decide the glass—and maybe the game.