Nets center Jason Collins returned from a nagging lower right leg injury to start for the Nets in Friday night's 89-83 home win over the Wizards, but that's where the good news ends for New Jersey.

"At half time, it tightened up, we were able to do some treatment, but it got to the point where I wasn't going to do the team any good on the court," said a frustrated Collins at the Nets' practice facility yesterday as the team reviewed film and prepared for the trip.

Doctors and trainers have not been able to precisely diagnose the problem which Collins said they now believe is nerve-related.

"We're doing a bunch of tests. It might be a nerve issue with some type of pinching going on, all my symptoms are in the front shin-area of my right leg," Collins explained.