Injury concerns continue to plague the Brooklyn Nets as they prepare for their upcoming NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Toronto Raptors. Nets guard Cam Thomas, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a left ankle sprain, is listed as doubtful for the game. While there is a small chance that Thomas could play, his absence from team activities for the past eight games raises doubts about his availability.

Thomas, Brooklyn's leading scorer with an average of 26.9 points per game, has been sorely missed by the Nets. If he were eligible, his scoring average would rank him ninth in the league. The team and coach Jacque Vaughn had expressed hope that Thomas could return to action this week, but with no official practices scheduled, finding opportunities for him to participate may prove challenging.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Thomas, there is some positive news on the injury front for the Nets. Starting power forward Cam Johnson, who was forced to leave Sunday's win over the Chicago Bulls due to right leg cramping, is listed as probable for the upcoming game. Johnson has experienced similar cramping issues earlier in the season, causing him to exit games prematurely. However, his probable status suggests that he will be available to contribute against Toronto.

Another player whose availability is uncertain is starting center Nic Claxton. Claxton missed Sunday's game against the Bulls due to a left ankle sprain, which is the same injury that caused him to miss eight consecutive games earlier in the season. Claxton initially suffered the sprain in the season-opening loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 25. He later returned to action on November 12 but reaggravated the injury during Saturday's victory over the Miami Heat. Despite returning to the game and putting up impressive numbers, Claxton's status for the upcoming game remains questionable.

The absence of key players like Thomas, Johnson, and Claxton has put a strain on the Nets' roster, but Brooklyn is slowly inching closer to full health. Backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who has missed the past four games with a lower-back sprain, has been upgraded to questionable. However, star player Ben Simmons is still sidelined with a nerve impingement in his left lower back.

The Nets, who currently have an 8-8 record, have faced one of the toughest schedules in the league so far. In addition to the injury woes, the team has also suffered from a combined 34 missed games from Claxton, Johnson, Simmons, and Thomas. Despite these challenges, the Nets remain optimistic about their depth and the impact their players can make when the team is at full health.

In addition to the injury updates, several other players have been ruled out for the game against Toronto. Gradey Dick, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Ron Harper Jr., Christian Koloko, and Markquis Nowell will all be unavailable for the Nets.

As the Nets continue to navigate through their injury issues, the team remains hopeful that their key players will return to action soon. Although the lack of official practice days poses a challenge, the Nets are exploring alternative methods to simulate game situations for their injured players. With the return of Thomas, Johnson, Claxton, and Smith Jr., the Nets hope to regain their full strength and thrive in the remaining games of the season.