Nets Guard Jeremy Lin Sidelined with Strained Hamstring

Jeremy Lin (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

Brooklyn Nets starting point guard Jeremy Lin is expected to miss at least two weeks with a strained left hamstring, the team announced Thursday.

Lin injured his hamstring late in the the first half of Wednesday night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons.  The Nets won 109-101, but struggled in the second half after his departure.  The 28-year-old played just 16 minutes, leaving the Nets extremely thin at point guard.

Brooklyn signed Lin to a three-year, $36 million deal over the summer.  He is averaging 15 points and 6.2 assists per game.  Lin is expected to miss games against two of his former teams: the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and the New York Knicks next Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

The Nets are 2-3 through their first five games with Lin in the lineup.  Rookie head coach Kenny Atkinson has the team playing at a high level thus far, but it will be interesting to see how they fare without him.

Rookie Isaiah Whitehead will receive even more minutes with Lin sidelined.  He has been forced into early action because veteran backup Greivis Vasquez is also out with an ankle injury.  Whitehead has shown flashes, but he is not ready to shoulder the load of being a full-time starting point guard in the NBA.  Randy Foye can eat up some minutes at the point, but he has yet to play this season.  Sources indicate he could make his Nets debut against the Hornets on Friday night at Barclays Center.