Brooklyn Nets small forward Gerald Wallace missed Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors.
Veteran Keith Bogans started in Wallace's absence. Nets coach Avery Johnson told reporters that Wallace is getting the game off to rest his left ankle.
Wallace recently missed six games due a sprained left ankle. He was rusty in his return to the lineup Sunday in Sacramento but played extremely well on Tuesday in Los Angeles, becoming the first Net to record five steals and three blocks in a game since Kenyon Martin on Jan. 2, 2004.
Wallace, 30, is averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals in three games this season. He is unquestionably the team's best and most versatile defender.
After returning from the West Coast, Brooklyn will play three home games in four days.
The Nets will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday and then the New York Knicks on Monday night.
The Nets also announced that 38-year-old reserve small forward Jerry Stackhouse will miss Wednesday's game so he can rest.
Rookies Tyshawn Taylor and Tornike Shengelia were active.
Mike Mazzeo is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com.
