With Williams Out For Nets, Celtics Will Get Good Look At MarShon Brooks
BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Celtics will not have to worry about the New Jersey Nets two best players on Wednesday night, but will have a red-hot rookie to contend with.
Point guard Deron Williams will miss Wednesday night's game at the Garden with a rib injury he suffered in New Jersey's Monday night loss to the Pacers. Williams scored 22 points in 34 minutes in the game, but was hurt in a collision under the basket and needs to take Wednesday night off.
Read: Celtics-Nets Preview
Williams is averaging a team-high 17.3 points and six assists per game this season for New Jersey.
The Nets are already without center Brook Lopez who underwent surgery on a broken bone in his right foot before the season started.
Getting the start for Williams will be rookie MarShon Brooks, who was originally drafted by the Celtics on draft night last year. The C's then traded Brooks to New Jersey for Purdue product JaJuan Johnson.
While Johnson has not found much time on the floor with Boston, Brooks is off to a stellar start in New Jersey. The pick out of Providence is averaging 13.5 points per game in his first six NBA contests, scoring 21 points in two of New Jersey's last three games.
Injured Boston center Jermaine O'Neal is expected to return after missing Monday night's win over the Wizards with a hamstring injury.
