NBA

Nets’ Lopez benched late

PHOENIX — Television cameras caught Brook Lopez coming out late in the fourth quarter, with a move that kept him on the bench for the start of the Nets’ 118-109 overtime loss to Phoenix.

Suffice to say he did not look pleased.

But Lopez said he understood the reasoning for the move as coach Avery Johnson wanted a small lineup.

“It was tough for me, but it was the right play,” Lopez said. “They were small and Hump [Kris Humphries] had a better chance of guarding Channing [Frye] than I did.”

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Travis Outlaw had a season-high 11 rebounds for the Nets. . . . Vince Carter matched Steve Nash for points with 23 for the Suns, 18 coming in first half. Former Knick Frye scored 21 for Phoenix.

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Jordan Farmar said tomorrow’s game against the Lakers is just another game.

But Farmar said he is looking forward to seeing old mates, and a few other perks.

“It’s my mom’s birthday,” he said. “I get my [championship] ring, so there’s a couple good things to look forward to.”

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When eight out of 14 players are involved, the odds say you will be one of them. But Lopez is one Net whose name never surfaced in any of the proposed Carmelo Anthony trade scenarios.

“I’m new to all this,” said Lopez, who outscored his twin brother Robin, 16-11, last night. “I mean, there is a sense of appreciation that they have that much confidence in me.”

Lopez said he has not been bothered one bit by the distraction of the trade proposals.

“Right, but I haven’t heard anything,” he said. “I’m the most anti-social guy in the world.”

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Some thoughts from each of the eight possible affected players in a possible Anthony deal:

* “It’s out of my control,” Devin Harris said. “If I was pulling the strings I’d say yes [get it over with], but I’m not.”

* said. “I continue to just prepare and think of the way I can help my team.”

* “I don’t pay any attention to it,” Stephen Graham said. “If it goes through, it goes through.”

* “This is the NBA. Rumors are every day,” Quinton Ross said. “I just try to block them out.”

* “It’s had no effect whatsoever. None,” Derrick Favors said.

* “The only thing you can control is what happens on the court when you’re on the court,” Johan Petro said.

* “It’s pretty much all speculation,” Anthony Morrow said.

* “We’ve been dealing with it for some time,” said Troy Murphy from New Jersey where he was left behind, ostensibly because of the residual effects of a viral infection. “Just deal with it and move forward.”

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Morrow, who missed his 13th straight game last night with a strained hamstring, was running at the shootaround and said he hopes to play next week, though no one is sure for what team.

“I’m feeling great,” he said. “Had a great little workout right now and I feel like I’m in pretty good shape. Can’t wait to get back on the court and practice, get my timing back and stuff like that. That’s only going to take a couple practices.”

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For the eight players, the drain of the Anthony saga must be excruciating. Each day, the players go through a new wave of rumors, speculation and reports that they are/are not on the verge of being traded.

And the other guy who proceeds not really knowing, though he’s more clued in to the proceedings, is coach Avery Johnson, who said he is handling the distractions the way he wants his players to handle them.

“When I started working in the media, I clearly understood what sources mean,” said Johnson, referring to his stint as a TV analyst for two years. “And sources are not always accurate. Sometimes, there is never really a source. So that’s a part of the deal. They have to manage it. I wouldn’t want to be in any other place. And I told them they should not want to be in any other situation. It’s a great situation.”