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Brook Lopez 'Anxious' For Return In Nets' Home Opener

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Brook Lopez picked a good day to make his return.

The Brooklyn Nets are expected to have their big man on the court Monday night for their home opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center.

"I think I'm just gonna have to come out and be mentally prepared," said Lopez, who hasn't played a regular-season game since December 2013. "It's tough coming in from doing pretty much nothing to playing pretty much a full NBA game with the speed of the game. ... It's gonna take a lot of preparedness, but I'll be ready."

The 26-year-old suffered a mild sprain to his right mid-foot last month during a preseason exhibition in China. A fracture to the same foot prematurely ended his 2013-14 season.

Lopez has played only 96 regular-season games over the past three seasons due to foot woes. The 7-footer admitted he was "anxious" after practice on Sunday, saying his delayed season debut feels "like Christmas."

"I'm excited to play," said Lopez, who averaged 20.7 points, six rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 17 games last year. "I wish it was right now."

The Nets (1-1) are coming off a 102-90 win in Detroit.

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