The beleaguered Nets will get a much-needed boost, with point guard Deron Williams slated to return to the lineup Wednesday in Charlotte and center Brook Lopez a possibility to play against the Bobcats as well.
Williams, who missed much of camp with a right ankle injury, sprained his left ankle Friday against the Suns. But after practicing for the first time since then on Tuesday, the point guard proclaimed himself fit to not only start but go full-tilt with no restrictions on his minutes. And he did it in typical Williams style.
Asked how much he was able to do in practice, he replied “Everything.” Pressed for how he felt, he said “Great.” Asked whether he would play Wednesday, he answered “Yeah,” and to a question of being restricted at all against Charlotte, he responded “Nope. I’m going to play.’’
OK, then.
Lopez also has missed the last two games with a sprained left ankle, and said he actually feels good enough to play now, even though that decision is out of his hands. He hasn’t been ruled in or out for Wednesday, but coach Jason Kidd said Lopez’s status would be evaluated after the morning shootaround in Charlotte.
“I don’t know. He feels better I guess. Treatment is going well. But we’ll see how he feels, if he can go [Wednesday]. We’ll see how he does at shootaround,’’ said Kidd.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be, that’s not up to me. I feel good. I feel like I could play. I’m not the one calling the shots there. We’ve got to think about long-term,’’ said Lopez, who wasn’t sure whether he’d be restricted if he does play. “I don’t know. Again, that’s [a decision for trainer] Timmy [Walsh]. I feel if I had to I could play right now.”
Lopez, Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko (back) did not practice Tuesday. Kirilenko said he’ll make the trip to Charlotte and Minnesota, and hopes to be cleared to play in three or four days.
“I’d say three, four days before the doctors [give] the green light to go all the way and play hard and contest, five-on-five stuff,’’ said Kirilenko, who has missed the last five games. “I’ll go on the road trip because I need to get those workouts and gradually [get] better and better.
“I’d love to play against Charlotte and Minnesota. It’s just all up to the doctors, if they’re really confident, because I’m not confident. I’m trying to rely on the doctors and what they want for me because it is a little bit longer than I expect, taking a little bit precautious.’’