Kris Humphries returns to starting lineup tonight

Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

Brooklyn Nets power forward Kris Humphries, who has come off the bench for the Nets for the past five games, will return to the starting lineup tonight against the Utah Jazz. Reggie Evans had taken the starting spot in his place and will return to the bench.

Evans originally earned the starting spot for his success playing next to Andray Blatche, who had entered the starting lineup for the injured Brook Lopez. With Lopez back, it was only a matter of time before Humphries returned to the lineup. In five games as a starter, Evans averaged 3.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 29.8 minutes. The Nets went 2-3 in the five games.

The Lopez-Humphries combo, despite Humphries’ tempered numbers, has had success this year: the team is a +7.1 per 100 possessions with the two sharing the floor. Lopez & Evans were also a successful duo, at +8.9 points per 100 possessions, but Evans is even better paired with Blatche (+10.9), and his numbers with Lopez came in far fewer minutes and with more flukish numbers.

Humphries averaged 8.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 34.1 minutes as a starter, shooting 47.9% from the field. In five games off the bench, Humphries’ shooting percentage plummeted to 26.3%.