Joe Johnson reacts after a play against the Knicks at...

Joe Johnson reacts after a play against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 20, 2014. Credit: Jim McIsaac

In a season filled with injuries to virtually all of the team's key players, Joe Johnson was the lone Net able to escape the dreaded bug.

Until now, that is.

Johnson sat out last night's game against the 76ers with right knee tendinitis, something he's apparently been nursing for a while. He's expected to be re-evaluated Tuesday and it's unclear if he'll play against the Spurs on Thursday.

"It's been bothering him for some time,'' Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "But Joe is not one to complain. So we thought we'd get him the night off."

Johnson had a bag of ice attached to his right knee at one point as he sat on the bench during the second half of Saturday night's loss to the Pacers in Indiana. His production has tailed off dramatically in the Nets' past five games, as he's averaged only 9.6 points.

"It just feels like it's not getting better,'' Johnson said. "It's tendinitis in my knee and it's like I've been on one leg.''

Still, neither Kidd nor Johnson seemed overly concerned.

"We've done X-rays,'' Johnson said. "Everything's good. The doctors told me the only thing that's going to help me is rest, and I'm just doing the necessary things I need to do to stay on top of it, to calm this tendinitis down so I can get back out there as soon as possible.''

Kidd coach of monthWhen the Nets were struggling in December, there was exterior chatter about Kidd's job security. On Monday, he was named the Eastern Conference coach of the month. Talk about a quick reversal.

Kidd guided the Nets, who had a pair of five-game winning streaks in January, to a conference-best 10-3 mark in the month.

"I think it's a great honor for those guys in that locker room,'' Kidd said. "They are playing at a higher level and it's a very nice recognition. But it's because of those guys that are playing, and those guys are playing very well right now.''

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