Brook Lopez to miss up to 8 weeks

New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez is expected to return in six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery Friday to repair a non-displaced stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the right foot, the team announced.

"A single screw was inserted into the bone to stabilize the fracture and speed up the healing process," foot specialist Dr. Martin O'Malley said in a statement. "He was placed in a boot and will walk with the aid of crutches. Brook will begin his rehab in two weeks."

O'Malley and Nets team orthopedist Dr. Riley Williams III performed the procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

Lopez, 23, was hurt during the first half of Wednesday night's preseason game against the New York Knicks. His surgery comes just three days before the Nets open the 66-game regular season in Washington.

Given the six- to eight-week time frame, Lopez likely would be able to return in mid to late February. His identical twin, Robin Lopez, suffered the same injury in 2009 and returned after approximately seven weeks.

A four-year pro, Lopez has never missed an NBA game. He has been rumored as the potential centerpiece in a blockbuster offer for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

"I've seen star players go out before," coach Avery Johnson said. "And the main thing is we have to play with a lot of urgency. We've got to play, nobody's going to give us any sympathy. We're not asking for any. We're missing one of our top two players, that's a fact. But we're going to suit up. We're going to be ready to go in Washington and hopefully give ourselves a chance to win."

Lopez averaged a career-high and team-best 20.4 points per game last season, and was intent on improving his career-worst average of 6.0 rebounds. In two preseason games against the Knicks, Lopez had 20 rebounds and looked to be well on his way to accomplishing that goal.