New York Post

B’klyn hopeful 3 starters will return for opener

- By BRIAN LEWIS

The Nets were without three starters — Allen Crabbe, DeMarre Carroll and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — in Friday’s preseason finale victory over the Knicks.

But it sounds like they could get at least two, and possibly all three, back for the regular-season opener Wednesday at Detroit. Carroll and Hollis-Jefferson seem on pace to be ready to suit up against the Pistons, and Crabbe hasn’t been completely ruled out.

“I’m very hopeful. Wishful. Ideal is everybody is 100 percent,” coach Kenny Atkinson said.

“That’s the plan,” told The Post.

“We’ll see. Got to talk to the [trainers],” Crabbe told The Post.

Hollis-Jefferson and Carroll seem Carroll all but assured to play. Hollis-Jefferson suffered an adductor injury on Aug. 4 playing in former teammate Jeremy Lin’s charity game in China. He just completed his first full practice in the last week, and has been vital for the Nets. They were 24-35 when he started last season, but just 4-19 when he didn’t.

“Rondae did a full five-on-five [Friday] morning. He’s looking good, but I just want to hold off on that,” Atkinson said. “He’s been doing a fair amount, just not enough where I feel comfortabl­e — where we feel comfortabl­e — throwing him in there. We still want to progress him a little see how he reacts.”

After Carroll came up with a sore ankle, the Nets decided to play it cautious Friday to ensure his availabili­ty for opening night.

“Yeah, I’m not a doctor but I think it is temporary and expect him to be ready for the opener,” Atkinson said. “I think it’s a little wear and tear. We’re just playing it cautious.”

Crabbe told The Post on Wednesday night that his mild ankle sprain was “nothing serious,” and nowhere near as bad as the ankle injury that essentiall­y ruined his preseason last year and led to his ice-cold start.

“Allen Crabbe is still coming back from the mild sprain,” Atkinson said. “So we don’t want to take the risk of getting any worse (by playing him against the Knicks.”

Shabazz Napier was still out with a strained right hamstring, and the team said there was no change in his status.

Treveon Graham had 10 points, six assists and five boards in another quietly efficient game. He finished a plus-10, and Atkinson said he has a real shot to contribute in the rotation.

D’Angelo Russell scored 18 to finish the preseason averaging a team-high 18.0 points .

The Nets signed guards Tahjere McCall and Shannon Scott on Friday. Both of them played last year for the Nets’ GLeague affiliate in Long Island. The team will probably waive both by Monday’s deadline to set the rosters, but retain their G-League rights.

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