Joe Johnson OUT: Nets vs. Hornets, 7:30 P.M. EST: TBG Open Thread

Grade the Game At Any Time!

Tonight: The 22-42 New Orleans Hornets, complete with Brook Lopez’s twin brother Robin, come to Barclays Center for the first and only time this season to face the 37-27 Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are playing their fourth game in five nights, most recently an embarrassing loss to the freefalling Philadelphia 76ers, and will have four days of rest after tonight’s game. The Hornets most recently beat the Portland Trail Blazers 98-96 at home on Sunday.

The BK Game Streak: Today marks game 12 of “The BK Game Streak,” where you can build a streak of wins along the betting line over the course of the season. Three prizes will be awarded at the end of the year, with first prize a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Log in with Facebook to get started, vote in the box above, and good luck!

Watch & Listen: Tonight’s game is broadcast on YES Network. Ian “The Birdman” Eagle and Jim “Jimmy Sparkles” Spanarkel are on the call. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.

More on tonight’s game, including injuries and stats, after the jump.

Out: Late break: guard Joe Johnson is out tonight to rest his sore heel. Kris Humphries is functionally out of the rotation. For the Hornets, forward Ryan Anderson is out, guard Eric Gordon (knee) is probable, rookie guard Austin Rivers (right hand) is expected to miss the rest of the season, and forward Jason Smith (shoulder) is out for the season.

Starting Lineups:
New Orleans Hornets: Brian Roberts, Greivis Vasquez, Al-Farouq Aminu, Anthony Davis, Robin Lopez (15 minutes, +/- +22.1 per 100 possessions)
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, C.J. Watson, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez (52 minutes, +/- -3.8 per 100 possessions)

Advanced Statistics:
New Orleans Hornets : 102.8 offensive rating (15th), 107.1 defensive rating (28th), 91.03 possessions per game (22nd)
Brooklyn Nets: 103.2 offensive rating (12th), 103.1 defensive rating (17th), 90.78 possessions per game (30th)

Rotation update: Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo will sit Joe Johnson for the final game of a four-day-in-five-night stretch, giving him five days of rest instead of four over this long break. As far as the power forward rotation, this is the fifth game since Carlesimo said he’d evaluate more playing time for Mirza Teletovic over “four or five games.” Teletovic has shot 5-22 in the first four games, averaging 3.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game.

Expect a slog: The Hornets are 29th in the league in pace, averaging 91.03 possessions per game. The Nets are 30th in pace, averaging 90.78 possessions a game. Both teams start a Lopez twin at center. This is not coincidence.

Go Nets!