The Nets released their preseason schedule yesterday, and two things stood out: the first trip back to Boston for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, and the absence of the Knicks.
The former Celtics are scheduled to make their first trip to Boston Oct. 23, a little more than a week after the players the Nets shipped to Boston in the blockbuster deal — Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and Keith Bogans — make their return to Brooklyn Oct. 15.
But just as noteworthy is the fact the Nets won’t be facing their crosstown rivals during the preseason, something that hasn’t happened in recent memory. The two teams have faced each other at least once a year going back at least as far as 2002.
Besides the home-and-home with Boston, the Nets also will face the defending champion Heat twice during the preseason — at home Oct. 17, and in Miami Oct. 25. The other three games on the schedule are the preseason opener in Washington Oct. 8, playing host to Detroit Oct. 12 and traveling to Philadelphia Oct. 14.
* The Nets announced Tornike Shengelia will undergo surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday.
Shengelia, who played sparingly as a rookie last season, struggled during Orlando Summer League action earlier this month, where he averaged 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists, which could be attributed to him dealing with knee trouble.
The 21-year-old forward, who averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds for the Nets as a rookie, will miss playing in Eurobasket for his country, the Republic of Georgia, later this offseason because of the surgery.