Ankle sprain makes Gerald Wallace day-to-day
Gerald Wallace shoots against the Washington Wizards during an NBA preseason basketball game at the Barclays Center. (Oct. 15, 2012) Credit: Jason DeCrow
The Nets' Gerald Wallace sat out Monday night's game against the Timberwolves, unable to play because of a sprained left ankle.
Coach Avery Johnson said the veteran swingman remains day-to-day. Keith Bogans started in Wallace's place at small forward.
Wallace injured himself in the closing minute of Saturday night's 107-100 win over the Raptors, rolling his ankle on Kyle Lowry's foot as he attempted to block his shot on a fast- break attempt. X-rays taken after the game were negative.
"We'll continue to treat him and see how he feels," Johnson said. "We'll probably just keep him in the back tonight during the game and just ice him and treat him and see where he is once we get on this road trip.
"He's feeling a little bit better, but definitely not good enough to play in the game."
Johnson cracked that despite his injury, Wallace has good reason to head down to Florida with the team on its two-game swing to Miami and Orlando.
"Yeah," he said. "He likes per diem."
Nets eyed Kirilenko
The Nets were very interested in signing free-agent forward Andrei Kirilenko during the summer, but he opted to take the Timberwolves' two-year, $20-million deal.
Even with the chance to be reunited with former Jazz teammate Deron Williams, Kirilenko -- who played pro basketball in Russia this past season -- refused to join the Nets for the veteran's minimum.
"He definitely was on our list. Oh, yeah," Johnson said. "That guy with a skill set like that? I've always been a fan. He plays hard, he plays defense, he dives on the floor, he blocks shots, he goes back door, he's improved his shot."
Williams said he tried to help in the recruiting process but added: "We just didn't have enough money."
