Nets' Hollis-Jefferson out vs. Warriors with sprained ankle

The Brooklyn Nets will be without their starting small forward Sunday when they try to put the first nick on the Golden State Warriors' armor this season.

First-year swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been ruled out for the contest after spraining his right ankle in practice Saturday.

It's the first game Hollis-Jefferson will sit out, and it puts a significant dent in the Nets' chances of getting the 21-0 Warriors in the loss column. The rookie is already Brooklyn's best wing defender, has been a monster on the glass, and has boosted his team's overall production by 7.5 points per 100 possessions when he's been on the floor.

When the Nets took the Warriors to overtime (the only team to do so this season) back on Nov. 14, Hollis-Jefferson had seven points, 13 boards, two assists, two steals, and a block, while registering a team-best plus-5 rating in 32 minutes.