Brook Lopez Injury: Updates on Nets Star's Ankle Injury

The excitement of Deron Williams' 57-point outburst and the New Jersey Nets' 101-95 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday was tempered by yet another potentially serious injury to Brook Lopez.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 4:10 p.m EST

The Nets sit at 12-26, so pushing Lopez back too quickly might be a mistake. Billy King reiterated that notion by mentioning the Nets could shut down the big man for the rest of the season.

"

"We’ve got a young player, 23, and we’re gonna make a decision, do we keep him out the rest of the year? Because I think it’s important for us to have a healthy Brook Lopez,'' King said. "He’s not going to be out for the rest of the year but at three weeks, if he still have a little soreness in the ankle, we’re going to hold him out. Because my main concern is about Brook Lopez, going forward at 23 years old. We want him as healthy as possible.'' 

"

UPDATE: Monday, 4:15 p.m EST

The news is not good for Lopez, or fans hoping to trade him to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard before the March 15 trade deadline.

The New Jersey Nets’ PR department tweeted the bad news Monday afternoon:

"

Brook Lopez has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle, Nets GM Billy King announced.

— Nets PR Dept. (@Nets_PR) March 5, 2012"

What's the timetable for his return? 

"

Lopez will have his foot placed in a walking boot as a precautionary measure. He is expected to miss three weeks of action.

— Nets PR Dept. (@Nets_PR) March 5, 2012"

The team says they will reevaluate the injury on March 23, well past the trade deadline. This is a crushing blow for a potential trade and it's yet another setback for a guy who has played only five games since returning from a broken foot. 

*End of update

According to Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record, Lopez could miss significant time after rolling his ankle during the first half in Charlotte:

"

Avery said that Brook Lopez rolled his right ankle "really bad." He'll be evaluated tomorrow. Avery unsure if Lopez will travel w team 2nite

— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) March 5, 2012"

Lopez played just 15 minutes, in which he scored six points and chipped in three rebounds, before suffering the blow to his ankle, from which he didn't return in the second half. He had been averaging 22.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game prior to Sunday since returning to action from a foot injury suffered in training camp.

The injury isn't likely to affect the Nets' pursuit of Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic are unlikely to trade their franchise star, who's said to prefer a move to New Jersey, before the March 15 trade deadline.

For the Nets, though, losing Lopez for a second time only confirms that the 2011-12 season is already lost. At 12-26, New Jersey currently sits 13th in the Eastern Conference, six-and-a-half games behind the rival New York Knicks for the eighth seed in the postseason picture.

Follow @J0shMart1n