Nets, Williams look to upstage Knicks
Nets guard Deron Williams will be a free agent after the 2011-12 NBA season. (Mar. 18, 2011) Credit: AP
The Nets once again are hoping to upstage the Knicks, this time on national television. Deron Williams, who has been out since March 18 with a wrist injury, is expected to return to the Nets' lineup tonight against the Knicks at the Garden in a game televised by ESPN.
There has been talk that Williams would be shut down for the season because of the injury, which has been a problem since he originally sprained it Jan. 26 while playing for the Jazz. The Nets mathematically have been eliminated from playoff contention, but Williams admitted Sunday he had his eye on the game against the Knicks.
"We all know it's an ESPN game," Nets coach Avery Johnson said Sunday. "We haven't been on national TV all year, so I think that's just a normal situation where there is more to it. But there's not going to be more to it for us to put one of our players in harm's way, if we think he's going to further injure himself."
The Knicks may play without one of their more important rotation players, forward Shawne Williams, who had back spasms late in Monday's win over Orlando and is listed as questionable.
