If you thought things couldn't get worse for the Brooklyn Nets this season, you were clearly wrong: Brook Lopez, the team's top scorer, may miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, according to SB Nation's NetsDaily. CSNNE.com's Gary Tanguay was the first to report the news.
Lopez, who has played just 17 of the Nets' 26 games this season, is averaging 20.7 points, six rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 56 percent from the floor. His 25.7 PER is good for No. 7 in the NBA. Despite Lopez's strong performance, the Nets are a disappointing 9-17 on the season, and in the No. 11 spot in the East. But since the East is so shallow and the Atlantic Division so awful, Brooklyn is just 2.5 games out of the No. 4 seed and 3.5 games out of first-round home court advantage.
Lopez played 44 minutes in the Nets' overtime loss to the Sixers on Friday. The Nets are 7-10 in games in which Lopez has played, and 2-7 without him. He's been battling a sprained left ankle all season.
Lopez's absence will likely open up playing time for Mason Plumlee, Reggie Evans and Andray Blatche. More may be asked of Kevin Garnett as well. Luckily for Brooklyn, they have plenty of stars who were once featured scorers to pick up the shot load.
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