The New Jersey Nets have added a big name to their growing list of injuries: standout rookie MarShon Brooks. Head coach Avery Johnson said the first round pick fractured the pinky toe on his right foot and will be out indefinitely. Brooks will see a specialist on Monday, which should allow the team to put a timetable on his return.
The Nets aren't sure when the injury occurred, but he had just returned to the lineup Sunday after sitting out the previous three games with a sore Achilles. Against the Toronto Raptors Brooks scored six points in 22 minutes. For the season he is averaging 14.8 points per game and had emerged as the only pure scorer on the roster other than point guard Deron Williams.
Johnson also revealed the team will be without DeShawn Stevenson (knee) and Mehmet Okur (back) against the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night. Continuing with the not-so-positive news, the head coach said he didn't expect injured center Brook Lopez to be back on the court "anytime soon". Lopez has missed the entire season due to a broken foot.
The latest injury dampens what had been a solid stretch for New Jersey. They have won four of seven and are in the mix for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.