Mason Plumlee to start for Nets, injured Brook Lopez to sit out opener
Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins toldreporters that center Mason Plumlee will start for the team in its opener at the Celtics in place of Brook Lopez, who is dealing with a right midfoot sprain.
Lopez practiced on Tuesday for the second consecutive day, but he did not participate in the contact portion of practice, Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News reported. Lopez sprained his foot roughly two weeks ago.
The Nets gave Lopez a four-year, $60-million contract in 2012. Lopez averaged 20.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 56.3% from the field last year in only 17 games.
Lopez was an All-Star in 2012-13, but he has been held to below 20 games played in a season in two of his six NBA years. Lopez only played five games in 2011-12.
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Plumlee is in his second year out of Duke. Plumlee averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 65.9% from the field in his rookie season.
-Andrew Melnick
