NBA

Nets lose Bogan for season

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — If you are a Nets fan, you probably are insulated against the following question.

What do you want first, the bad news or the really bad news?

Keith Bogans underwent an MRI exam yesterday on his left foot and the results drove the situation from bad to worse. Bogans was diagnosed with a complete tear of the left deltoid ligament as well as a fractured left ankle in a freak on-court accident in Wednesday’s 99-92 loss to Detroit and will be lost for the season.

Bogans, who signed Feb. 1 as a free agent and played in five games, will undergo surgery Monday. General manager Billy King is expected to update the situation this morning.

The Nets do not figure to seek immediate outside help because they have 15 guaranteed contracts, no spot and would have to release somebody. But if they make a move soon, releasing Bogans is a possibility — he makes around $600K on a pro-rated veteran’s minimum. The Nets, who should have nine available players tonight for the rematch with the Pistons, now have two players, Bogans and Damion James (foot surgery), who do not figure to play again this season. Both expiring contracts could be used in deals.

While Mehmet Okur (back) remains out, there is help on the horizon because MarShon Brooks, DeShawn Stevenson and Brook Lopez could return soon. Brooks and Stevenson are closest to returning with updated news on their conditions expected Sunday. Lopez figures to be back around the All-Star break. All of that qualifies as good news, something that has been in woefully short supply for the Nets.

Being designated the Nets’ best defender or defensive stopper has been a virtual curse. First, there was James. He is lost for the season after requiring foot surgery to correct a problem with the screw that was inserted in his broken foot last season. The Nets then decided to not pick up his third-year option.

After James, the designated defensive stopper became DeShawn Stevenson. He missed his sixth straight game Wednesday with a sore knee after sitting two earlier games with a similar problem. Coach Avery Johnson next referred to Bogans as his best defender and we see where that led.

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Brooklyn never looked so good. The Nets come back after tonight’s game to face the Spurs tomorrow in Newark, where they have the third worst home record in the league at 3-9 (.250). Only New Orleans at 2-13 (.133) and Charlotte at 2-8 (.200) are worse. Toronto, at 3-7 (.300), is the only other team with as few as three home victories.

“We’ve got to generate more energy when we’re playing at home,” Johnson said.

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If it isn’t a lack of energy at home the Nets are discussing, it’s usually a lousy start that often is tied into that energy thing. In first quarters, the Nets have been outscored, 23.4 to 21.0 or 2.4 points per game. In second quarters, the deficit rises to 3.0 full points, 25.8 to 22.8. So that puts them down on average 5.4 points per game at the half.

“We can’t come out lethargic and with no energy,” Shelden Williams said.

But they do.

“It’s got to be something we [must] do,” Anthony Morrow said. “We’ve got to find a way to get the crowd in the games, feed off that. Feed off each other and create our own energy.”

fred.kerber@nypost.com