The Nets didn’t have James Harden on Friday night in Salt Lake City and were blown out by the Jazz, 125-102, to suffer their seventh straight defeat.
Harden missed the one-sided game because of left hamstring tightness.
How much longer will the Nets have Harden at all? With the Feb. 10 trade deadline approaching, that appears to be an open question.
The Athletic reported on Friday that the Nets "are believed to be open to discussing a deal" that would send Harden to the 76ers for disgruntled guard Ben Simmons.
According to the report, the Nets would look to acquire several players in addition to Simmons, who has not played this season after asking Philadelphia to trade him in the offseason. The Athletic noted that the 76ers have role players such as Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle who could interest the Nets.
The Nets (29-23) fell to 2-8 since Kevin Durant went out with a knee injury. Utah scored the first 10 points and led by as many as 34.
Kyrie Irving shot 2 for 12 in the first half and finished with 15 points. Rookie Cam Thomas scored a game-high and career-best 30.
"Tough, tough game," Nets coach Steve Nash said. "I felt for the guys. ... Our guys stayed together and fought through it. I’m proud of them for that."
Nic Claxton played only five minutes after straining his left hamstring. Nash said he didn’t know how serious it was.
"We’re going through a heck of a time right now," Nash said.
Utah (32-21) was led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 27 in his first game back from a concussion-related absence. Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points.
Harden was not on the bench during the rout.
Reports have been swirling around Harden for some time. First, that he is not happy with the Nets. Then, that the Nets were not considering trading him before the deadline. And, now, that Brooklyn has reversed course and would listen to offers for Harden, who was named an All-Star Game reserve on Thursday.
Harden didn’t play like an All-Star in the Nets’ loss on Wednesday to the Kings in Sacramento, scoring four points in 37 minutes.
"I think [the injury] was a factor," Nash said before Friday’s game. "I know it was a factor."
Harden also missed a game on Jan. 26 because of hamstring tightness.
"Hopefully he’s able to go on Sunday [at Denver]," Nash said. "I don’t think it’s that bad. I think it’s just a precaution. Really make sure we can strengthen him, give him an extra day."
In answer to a question about the trade deadline, Nash said he didn’t expect Nets brass to overreact to the losing streak the team brought into Friday’s game.
"I don’t think our organization’s the type that’s reactive," he said. " ‘We lost a game. Let’s make a trade.’ I think we’ve built something here that we feel we have a great chance to compete for a championship if healthy. So none of us are panicking or saying we don’t have the pieces to win. We just haven’t had them on the floor at the same time."
