BOSTON – Nets center Brook Lopez will miss Wednesday’s season opener against the Celtics as he continues to recover from a right midfoot sprain he suffered two weeks ago in China.
Lopez was listed him as doubtful to play when the team left for Boston Tuesday, but coach Lionel Hollins confirmed the news after the team’s morning shootaround Wednesday.
“He’s not playing tonight,” Hollins said. “He still is having some pain when he goes hard.”
Second-year center Mason Plumlee will take Lopez’s place in the starting lineup next to Kevin Garnett.
“I know I’m playing,” Plumlee said with a smile. “Last year’s opener, the first couple games, I was on edge, trying to get into the game. But I know there’s higher expectations this year, and it’s something I look forward to.”
Plumlee had an impressive rookie season and came out of nowhere to make Team USA this summer, but Hollins said tthe decision to start Plumlee was based only on what he did in training camp over the past month and not anything he did before.
“The reason I’m starting him is he’s played all preseason, he’s played well, and he deserves the opportunity,” Hollins said. “He’s the next big in line, really. If we were playing in a game and Brook did play, he would probably be the first big off the bench.”