Brook Lopez "Game Time Decision" for Knicks but Chances "Aren't Very High"

Brook Lopez went 5-on-5 Monday and the Nets said he is a "game-time decision" for the Knicks game Tuesday night. at Barclays. But Avery Johnson put a damper on things after practice by saying, Lopez's chances of Lopez playing "aren't very high.

Lopez himself told writers there's little he can do now. It's about waiting. "Not from my perspective," he said. We'll see how it feels tomorrow morning." Kristie Ackert of the Daily News tweeted that he was not limited in practice. Still, there was confusion at the end of practice. After the Nets PR staff tweeted that Lopez was a "game time decision," Johnson told beat reporters, "the chances he is going to play tomorrow are not very high."

Deron Williams was less concerned. "He looked good. He didn’t look like he was bothered by it or slowed down or hesitant. He looked good." MarShon Brooks simply tweeted, "good practice."

Johnson also told writers that says the Nets are still evaluating their starting power forward, and are contemplating moving Gerald Wallace into the starting role at the four, Mike Mazzeo tweeted. Johnson added the Nets are not in "crisis mode." adding, the Nets are "still within five games," with 60 to go. Actually, the Nets are 3.5 games behind the Knicks in the East.

Lopez has missed five games, the last four being sour losses for Brooklyn. Johnson had said the Nets would not play Lopez until he went through a full practice. Dr. Riley Williams III, the Nets team physician, met with Lopez at Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon.

First word of Lopez returning to practice came when Billy King posted an image of Lopez taking instructions on the court from Johnson.

Based on tweets from Nets_PR, Josh Newman, Howard Beck, Mike Mazzeo, Tim Bontemps, Rod Boone, Devin Kharpertian Kristie Ackert and Stefan Bondy.

• Lopez Practices, Labeled Game-Time Decision For Knicks - Josh Newman - SNY
• Lopez returns to Nets practice, could play vs. Knicks - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
  
• Brook Lopez could return vs. Knicks - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Avery on Nets: 'Nobody's in a crisis mode' - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Nets miss Lopez on defense, too - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York