Cam Thomas can still qualify for the NBA’s annual awards.
And if he does, Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie said the rising young guard warrants being in the Most Improved Player conversation.
“He should be in there, definitely, just with his body of work,” Ollie said before Thomas poured in a team-high 28 points in Friday’s 125-108 win over Chicago. “I know he has a lot of guys he’s competing with as well. But with his body of work, his consistency and him being able to score the ball in the capacity that he’s scoring is always great.”
Under new rules, players must log at least 20 minutes in 65 games to be eligible for awards. That means Thomas can’t miss more than one of Brooklyn’s last eight games.
Thomas has seen the biggest increase in scoring from last season to this year of any player in the league.
He entered the Bulls game leading the Nets in scoring at 21.8 points, a jump of 11.2 points from his 10.6 average last season.
“But for us to have these guys rewarded we have to win games, too. That goes with it. That’s just how the NBA is. You win, you get more recognition,” Ollie said. “So that’s why we always keep it a team sport, too, because it is a team sport. The better we do as a team, the more recognized we are as individuals.”
The Nets did just that Friday, earning their third straight victory — and fourth in six home games since the All-Star break — with the rout of Chicago.
Brooklyn shot 18 of 24 from 3-point range in the second half, tying an NBA record for 3s made in any half.
Nic Claxton had 11 points, 13 boards and two blocks despite opening the game with a custom-designed mask to protect his broken nose.
He discarded it late in the second quarter after being hit on a drive and having the mask slip down on his face, obscuring his view.
After suffering the broken nose while being hit in the face during the loss to the Knicks, Claxton played with a off-the-rack mask but found it cumbersome and uncomfortable.
Noah Clowney was cleared and played after having been probable with a back contusion suffered during a hard fall.
But Dennis Smith Jr. was a late scratch after being doubtful with a right hip synovitis.
Cam Johnson missed a third straight game with a sprained left big toe.
“CJ will see our docs [Friday night] or [Saturday]. We’ll get an update on him,” Ollie said. “Dennis Smith Jr. is still kind of working through that injection and look forward to seeing him back on the court. Hopefully soon.”
Mikal Bridges entered Friday second in the league in total minutes played (2,586), trailing only DeMar DeRozan (2,669).
He logged 37:56 while the Bulls standout played 36:48.
After the Hornets pilfered both Jeff Peterson and Ryan Gisriel from Brooklyn’s front office, no other Nets are expected to follow in Charlotte’s remake, league sources told The Post.
