NBA

In Pierce’s absence, Nets look to Lopez

Paul Pierce is out, but Brook Lopez is back.

Based on the center’s first two games since returning from a sprained left ankle and Pierce’s season-long struggles, it’s a trade the Nets would have to be glad to make.

Lopez was instrumental in Saturday’s 97-88 win in Memphis, scoring 20 points and hauling in nine rebounds in 31 minutes. The night before, he went for 16 points in 21 minutes against the Rockets.

“It’s been great, you saw that in Memphis down the stretch, being able to play inside, him being to deliver by scoring but also by finding open guys,” Nets coach Jason Kidd said. “One thing he can probably do better at — I was teasing him — was shooting free throws.”

Now that Pierce is out 2-to-4 weeks with a non-displaced fracture of the third metacarpal of his right hand and Jason Terry (sore left knee), Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) and Deron Williams (sprained left ankle) all are still out for the time being, the Nets will be asking more of Lopez, which is fine by him.

“I try to be reliable and consistent,” Lopez said. “I want guys to be able to trust I’m going to be there and know there will be some consistency to what we do.”


Kidd said he used Kevin Garnett for the entire fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over Memphis because the veteran “didn’t want to come out.” He doesn’t plan to make that a habit.

“The thing is we have depth, and we have enough guys that I don’t have to play him 12 straight minutes,” Kidd said. “But in that situation, he wanted to continue, he helped us get that win.”

The duo of Lopez and Garnett worked well together down the stretch. Garnett is improving steadily. He had eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot in 28 minutes against the Grizzlies.

“It was great, he hit big shots for us, made big stops, was vocal on offense and defense,” Lopez said.