During his sophomore season at Arizona, Richard Jefferson missed 13 games due to a broken right foot. That was during the 1999-2000 campaign.

Nevertheless, when Byron Scott learned that the rookie was complaining of soreness in the same foot to trainer Tim Walsh, the coach had heard enough. After watching two of his starters break legs last season, Scott is playing it safe. Yesterday, he kept Jefferson out of practice. And while Jefferson traveled with the Nets (1-2) to Detroit, where they play the Pistons tonight, Scott doesn't know if the forward will play.

"He played the game Saturday night and this morning he said it was a little sore," Scott said following practice at the Champion Center yesterday.