Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez provided injury updates on Ziaire Williams, Cam Johnson, and Trendon Watford after practice on Friday.

OKLAHOMA CITY — In Ziaire Williams, the rebuilding Nets took a flier on a former lottery pick as a salary dump. He’s an athletic floor-running defender whose jumper has been his weakness. But if he can keep shooting the way he has lately, their gamble might come good.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Clippers forward ...

For Lakers rookie Bronny James, the game was extra special as he got reunited with Nets forward Ziaire Williams, his former teammate at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles. After the matchup, James and Williams exchanged jerseys and posed for a picture. The Lakers guard posted it on his Instagram story.

Here are three Brooklyn Nets takeaways from Friday's 102-101 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers in D'Angelo Russell's return to Los Angeles.

Despite a close miss by D'Angelo Russell, the Nets lost to the Lakers 102-101 in what was supposed to be a revenge game for Russell, who had 19 points, six rebounds, and eight assists off the bench. Ziaire Williams had 15 points and Tosan Evbuomwan had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench to continue his impressive stretch for Brooklyn after being one of the team's recent Two-Way signings.

If Williams III can't give it a go, Portland would be down two centers against Los Angeles. That would leave them with Deandre Ayton and Duop Reath to man the frontcourt against the Clippers.

The Nets are coming off an impressive 132-114 win at the Trail Blazers on Tuesday as Cam Johnson and D'Angelo Russell returned from their respective to give Brooklyn the kind of spark that they haven't had in awhile.

The Los Angeles Clippers snapped the Milwaukee Bucks' 5-game win streak with a 127-117 victory Saturday night.

Williams returned Saturday from a two-game absence due to a sprained left ankle, but he wasn't able to connect on any of his five field-goal attempts. He started in his last nine outings prior to his injury,

Williams is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Heat, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.

Prior to the Brooklyn Nets retiring Vince Carter's jersey, Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, and Jordi Fernandez give their various thoughts on him.