Thaddeus Young, Brook Lopez to start for Nets vs. Jazz

Brook Lopez

Brook LopezBrooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez and forward Thaddeus Young will replace Mason Plumlee and Alan Anderson in the Nets starting lineup Sunday against the Utah Jazz. The move switches Joe Johnson from the “power forward” spot to the “small forward” spot against the Jazz, who start the 6’10” Derrick Favors and 7’2″ Rudy Gobert.

Lopez has played more minutes than Plumlee in most of the team’s games over the past two months, and his inclusion in the starting lineup probably won’t shake up that rotation much. But Young moving to power forward allows Johnson, who’s struggled in the last three games, to play more of his minutes against opposing wings. Cory Jefferson will likely see more playing time at power forward following his 12-point, 13-rebound performance Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.

The Nets start Young & Lopez next to Deron Williams, Markel Brown, and Johnson.

The Nets tip off at 6:00 P.M. EST.