Brook Lopez out of action for two games after suffering right foot sprain – NBA News
The Brooklyn Nets centre Brook Lopez is expected to miss two games after spraining his right foot, the team announced on Thursday. X-rays on the foot came out negative and the team does not believe an MRI will be required, meaning that the injury is not very serious and Lopez can be expected to return to the team soon. The team said that he will be labelled day to day after the Nets complete their two game road trip, and will most probably be ready to play next week.
"He's in pain. If he could run on it, he'd be playing," said Nets General Manager Billy King, while also adding that he "feels comfortable" that Lopez will not be out for a prolonged period of time. King also said that the injury is not related to the one he suffered in training camp before the start of the last season, which forced him to miss much of the season.
Lopez suffered the injury on Wednesday night in a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, when he drove to the basket with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett defending him, and came down limping. He played the game till the next time, but came back in the final period until he was fouled out from the game.
Lopez is proving to be a crucial component to the Nets good start to this NBA season that has seen them compile a 10-4 record so far. He is averaging 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game this season, proving that the Nets decision to lock him down with a contract in the summer rather than letting him contest free agency was the right decision.
Lopez underwent right foot surgery in December last year and came back for only five games, before suffering a second fracture. Initially, the team thought that the fracture was only a sprain, but closer examination revealed the fracture and Lopez was shut down for the rest of the lockout shortened season by the team. Andray Blatche, back up centre for the Nets, is expected to take Lopez’s place in the starting line-up in his absence, which will definitely be the next two games.
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