Nets' Pierce has broken hand, out 2-4 weeks

NEW YORK— Paul Pierce will be out two to four weeks with a broken bone in his right hand, the biggest loss yet for the injury-plagued Brooklyn Nets.

The team said Monday that Pierce had been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of the third metacarpal of his right, shooting hand. He was hurt Friday in the first half of a loss at Houston.

Pierce has struggled badly in his first season in Brooklyn, but the disappointing Nets can hardly afford another injury. They just got back Brook Lopez but have still been playing without Deron Williams and key reserves Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry.

Pierce is averaging 12.4 points.