Paul Pierce didn’t suit up for the Nets for just the second time this season on Saturday night in Memphis, and it appears he’ll be on the pine awhile longer.
Pierce was diagnosed with a broken right hand and is expected to miss two to four weeks with the injury, according to the Nets. He had started all 15 games he played in for the Nets this season. Reserve guard Alan Anderson is expected to start in his place, at least until Andrei Kirilenko returns from a back injury.
The Nets were expected to be one a championship contender this season after adding Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to a Brooklyn team that made the playoffs last year. The results have been underwhelming thus far, though, as the Nets have struggled to a 5-12 record to start the season. Pierce’s injury just adds to a long list of key contributors to miss time for the Nets this season. They’ve battled through injuries to Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Kirilenko during the first month.
The time off might be a welcome reprieve for Pierce, though, as he’s stuck in the middle of the worst season of his career. The 10-time All Star is averaging a career-low 12.4 points per game while shooting just 37 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3-point range (both career worsts).
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