Nets’ Joe Harris to miss fourth straight game

CHARLOTTE, NC — As expected, the Nets will be without Joe Harris for a fourth straight game when he misses the New Year’s game against the Hornets on Saturday night.

Harris is back in Brooklyn nursing pain in his left knee and hasn’t played since the Dec. 21 loss to the defending champions Warriors.

« He will stay at home, join us [in Brooklyn]. Hopefully we will assess it when we return,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “But he won’t be playing Charlotte, so no need to fly him. Come to think of it, keep them there, see what happens in these next three days.

Ben Simmons (non-COVID illness) and Edmond Sumner (right thumb contusion) are both likely for the Nets on Saturday. David Duke Jr., Kessler Edwards and Alondes Williams are all on a G-League mission.

“Ben didn’t train. … [We left him] Return to the hotel. Best to stay in there. He will fly with us in Charlotte,” Vaughn said before the team released a report on the injury. « I guess [Charlotte] could be up in the air as one of those non-COVIDs [illnesses]. I’m not even sure we’ll even list him, but all signs point to him playing.

Speaking of that practice, the Nets practiced at Overtime Elite in Atlanta. Kevin Durant — alongside Drake and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos — has invested heavily in Overtime, the high school sports startup. The Nets star took particular delight in seeing the glittering facilities Elite have at their disposal.

“Yeah, it’s a new day, baby. There is a lot of money invested. It’s amazing,” Durant told The Post. « [This didn’t exist] when I was dating 15, 16 years ago. So it’s a fairly new idea. For you to see it come to fruition so quickly, it’s amazing. “Yeah, it’s a very proud moment to come in here and see all of this, because you see where the game is going now. There are so many different possibilities for these children to pursue their dream. This [stuff] It’s incredible. Coming out of high school, you have the opportunity to come here and work on your game every day, go to school if you want, but earn some money. It’s a perfect opportunity.

Yuta Watanabe is shooting 52.3% from deep. He led the league in 3-point shooting before the injury and is just missing out on qualifying right now by just a 3. Watanabe has made 34 and needs one for every game the Nets play, so 35, according to the league’s website.

The Japanese striker said New Year’s Eve at home is more a family celebration than Christmas. He plans to FaceTime with his parents and family on Saturday morning.

« In the morning. It will be their midnight, » Watanabe told the Post. « They’ll be 14 hours early. »

Atlanta’s Bogdan Bogdanovic was fined $25,000 Friday afternoon for throwing the ball into the stands late in the Nets’ 108-107 win over the Hawks on Wednesday night.