Jared Dudley’s importance to the Nets was driven home by his absence in their first-round Game 2 loss in Philadelphia. They’re hoping to get a boost from his expected return in Thursday’s Game 3 at Barclays Center.
“I’m definitely good. … I expect to play a lot in Game 3,” said Dudley, listed as probable with a tight right calf. He practiced Wednesday and is near 100 percent.
“Real close. It was more precautious for Game 2. If it was Game 7, I would’ve played. It was a flag of just possibly [hurting] it worse where I miss Games 3, 4 and 5, which we didn’t want.