While Brook Lopez made his return to the starting lineup last night, the Nets saw another rotation player take a seat.
Jerry Stackhouse, who has turned into an important player for the Nets since he was inserted into the rotation against the Magic early last month, sat out last night’s 107-105 double-overtime win over the Pistons with a sore right knee and is expected to miss tonight’s game in Chicago as well.
Stackhouse injured the knee late in Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks, when he ran out to contest Jason Kidd’s 3-pointer with 24 seconds left. Kidd stuck his leg out as Stackhouse rushed out to defend, and they banged into one another.
“My momentum was going by him,” Stackhouse said before last night’s game. “I’ll be all right. I don’t think it’s anything serious right now.
“I’ve been sore the last few days, lost a little strength in it. I think I could possibly go [tonight], but I think they just want me to take a few extra days since we have some time after.’’
Stackhouse sat against the Raptors Wednesday, but that came as no surprise given Nets coach Avery Johnson’s prescribed plan for Stackhouse to only play in one-half of back-to-back games, something Johnson has done since Stackhouse entered the rotation.
The 38-year-old has become a pivotal piece off the bench for the Nets, providing a stabilizing presence whenever he’s on the floor, particularly when it comes to knocking down 3-pointers, hitting more than 42 percent of his shots from behind the arc.
“You hate to miss games, especially when we’re right in the thick of things,” Stackhouse said. “We have teams right ahead of us as well as on our heels, so you want to be at full strength.”
* Former Net and Knick Shawne Williams was arrested yesterday in Memphis, Tenn., on drug charges.
The 2006 first-round pick, who resurrected his NBA career with the Knicks in 2010-11 before signing with the Nets as a free agent last season, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell.
Williams played 64 games with the Knicks in 2010-11 before signing with the Nets as a free agent last season following the lockout. He struggled with his offense and foot injuries with the Nets, playing in 25 games before being dealt to the Blazers.
Portland had bought out the final year of his contract in July, making him a free agent.