Nets Ziaire Williams adds flare in return from back injury

Ziaire Williams returned just in time for the Nets.With less than a minute to go Thursday night and the Bucks trailing by a single point, the Nets forced a missed shot from 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo and Williams grabbed the rebound with 6.1 seconds remaining.The 6-9, former No.10-overall pick of the 2021 draft then hit both free throws to give the Nets the lead before Damian Lillard put up a desperation 3-pointer.After missing 12 games and nearly a month of time because of a knee injury, Williams added size in a contest without Noah Clowney (back) and a game-winning finish to the Nets’ stunning 113-110 victory over the Bucks.“It’s why we work so hard.

It’s nothing new,” Williams said of the final minutes Thursday.“Just don’t overthink it, man.

Just shoot it.I’m glad I was in that position, honestly.

I love being in moments like that, playing down the stretch in big moments.Crowd’s screaming.

Court rattling a little bit.It was fun.

I knew it was going in before I even shot it.I’m in a great headspace right now and I miss being out there.

Just a positive mindset and not taking the game for granted.”The 23-year-old small forward scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds, blocked a shot and was a plus-12 across 19 minutes off the bench.Since the Nets acquired Williams in July from the Grizzlies along with a 2030 second-round pick from Dallas in exchange for center Mamadi Diakite and the draft rights to forward Nemanja Dangubic, he has been an integral young development piece in the team’s rebuilding process.Across 22 games this season, he is averaging 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds on 40 percent shooting.With Clowney out and if Cam Johnson misses time after suffering an ankle injury on Williams’ late-game rebound, Williams could see more playing time for a team that lacks in size and is set to face the 76ers and 7-foot Joel Embiid on Saturday.“He made winning plays all over,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Williams.“His ener...