Nets president Rod Thorn said yesterday that Richard Jefferson "probably" won't play in tonight's game against the Pistons because of a sore right ankle that has forced him to miss the last game and a half.

Jefferson pulled himself from Wednesday's game against the Bucks at halftime because of soreness and tightness in the ankle. He didn't even fly to Toronto, where the Nets played the Raptors last night.

Thorn said he was surprised when Jefferson had to come out of Wednesday's game since the starting small forward had been playing well up to that point, showing no signs of an injury to his left ankle that forced him to miss five games last month.

"He said his ankle was very tight and he didn't feel like he was moving well at all," Thorn said.