Nets fans have been looking forward to seeing their record five first-round rookies. But just one game in, they're already down two of them heading into Friday's home opener thanks to a pair of ankle sprains.

Drake Powell (right ankle sprain) and Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain) will miss the game against the Cavaliers, as will veteran Haywood Highsmith (right knee surgery).

Wolf suffered his injury during Wednesday morning's shootaround, missing the season-opening loss at Charlotte.

He was walking without a boot or limp both before and afterward, sporting only a slight wrap.

Powell twisted his ankle in the fourth quarter of that rout, stepping on an opponent's foot and taking a foul to limp off the court with 4:38 left to play.

Ben Saraf was the lone man from the team's rookie class who started, getting the nod at point guard.

He finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 20 turnover-free minutes. The Israeli became the second-youngest starter in team history at just 19 years and 191 days old, but he shot just 2 of 7 and missed all of his attempts from deep, turning down a couple of open looks.

Egor Dëmin backed up Saraf after missing most of training camp and preseason with a plantar fascia tear.

He had 14 points on 4 of 6 from deep -- a Nets rookie record for a debut -- five boards, two assists and a steal. The Russian still hasn't shown he can beat defenders and get paint touches.

"I'm getting in better condition," Dëmin said. "I get stronger, and I feel better playing against athletes like this, feeling more confident. than defense And obviously, there's a lot of room to work on things like playing against pressure, not losing the ball, being under control, trying to organize the team better and try to be a leader. But we're in the right path."

It was just the fourth time in the Nets' NBA history that four rookies debuted in the same game, and the first since Nov. 2, 1990 (Derrick Coleman, Tate George, Jud Buechler and Kurk Lee).

After Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was one of several around the country arrested Thursday in relation to federal investigations into illegal sports betting and poker games, former Nets assistant Tiago Splitter was named Portland's interim head coach.

Heat guard Terry Rozier and 10-year veteran and former NBA assistant Damon Jones also were among those arrested, officials announced in a news conference in Brooklyn.

There was a reference in one of the indictments to how gamblers threatened Jontay Porter if he didn't go along with the betting schemes. Porter -- brother of Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. -- was banned for life from the NBA and pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in the same investigation. He will be sentenced Dec. 10 in Brooklyn.

Two Nets rookies go down with injuries early in rebuild season