Nets guard Devin Harris did nothing in practice, except sit with ice wrapped to his left shoulder. And while coach Avery Johnson said it’s an iffy proposition for tomorrow night in Orlando, Harris is insistent he’ll play.
So Dr. Harris, who missed 18 games last season with an assortment of ails, gave his own prognosis.
“Sprained AC joint. Nothing serious. I expect to play,” Harris said.
Johnson wasn’t as certain.
“We’re not sure yet. Tim (trainer Walsh) said there’s a possibility (he’ll play), but until we get there, see how he recovers, then we’ll know. He didn’t anything today,” Johnson said.
Harris suffered a sprained left shoulder when he collided with Stephen Jackson in the third quarter Wednesday. He returned and played the fourth quarter, which is a good sign. But there was soreness in the aftermath.
“It’s a little bit sore today. It was sore yesterday. I expect it to be better tomorrow. Go from there. It’s not really restricting me,” said Harris, noting he’s right handed.
So he had the entire practice off. If he can’t go against the Magic, then Jordan Farmar will get the start.
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The other left shoulder injury, the one to Brook Lopez, seems far less severe. Lopez was on the floor at the end of the game when Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin wound up sitting on him.
“There feels like a little, not pain but a soreness,” Lopez said. “Timmy (Walsh) just said that’s a stretching from when I was laying there.
It should be all right.”
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Johnson said he never has mentioned Dwight Howard to Lopez – “not one time, never mentioned him. If Brook says that I’ve ever mentioned Dwight Howard, I want him to replay the tape.” Lopez concurred.
“His focus has really just been on me. He really hasn’t mentioned him honestly He will bring up players, David (Robinson) and Tim (Duncan), two guys he played with, and stuff he did with them to get better.”
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Lopez and Howard have squared off six times, Howard’s Magic winning five. Here are their numbers:
Lopez has averaged 12l.2 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting .462 (30-of-65). Howard has averaged 20.0 points, 14.8 rebounds and shot .594 (41-of-69).