PLAYER NOTES:

--G Courtney Lee insists the twinge he felt in his strained groin Thursday was "not a setback" even though it kept him out of a back-to-back set in Orlando and Miami Friday and Saturday.

"I'm looking at it as letting me know I wasn't ready," Lee said. Lee has missed three-and-a-half games.

--C Brook Lopez was thoroughly outplayed Friday at both ends by All-Star center Dwight Howard. Lopez shot 1-of-12 and had 4 points, 5 rebounds, compared to Howard who had 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

"There were definitely three or four (shots) I forced, just being frustrated. Other ones, a couple of shots were short. I rushed a couple. But I had some good looks. I'm a lot more disappointed with what I did defensively," Lopez said.

--G Rafer Alston posted his first career triple double Friday: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. But the 11th-season vet felt he was too inconsistent in the second half.

"The second half too sporadic, too inconsistent to keep my team in the game. But I continued to play with a lot of energy, continued to play with a lot of a competitive nature," Alston said.

--F Terrence Williams posted his second straight double-double Friday (11 points, 12 rebounds) and his third of the season. He had become the first Net rookie to get a double-double in his first start -- which he did Wednesday -- since Nenad Krstic on Dec. 21, 2004.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Courtney Lee had hoped to return Friday from a groin strain that has kept him out of two-and-a-half games. He tweaked the injury Thursday and was scratched from a two-game trip to Orlando and Miami. He is aiming to play Tuesday.

--F Chris Douglas-Roberts returned Friday and played 18 minutes. He missed a week after being diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

--F Yi Jianlian is out with a sprained right knee. He is expected to miss up to another month.

--G Devin Harris missed his seventh straight game Friday with a strained right groin. He is doing light workouts but there is no timetable for his return.

--F Jarvis Hayes remains out since straining his hamstring in the season opener. He is doing shooting and is likely out another week.

--G Keyon Dooling (hip surgery rehab) underwent an arthroscopic procedure after last season. He is working his way back and has targeted mid-to-late November for his return.

--F/C Tony Battie has been fitted for a brace on his right knee after receiving a second opinion. There is no timetable for a return. He has been out since preseason.