"Part of life," Harris said with a shrug.

Harris and Williams can compare notes on playing through ankle sprains. Williams, who faced the Kings last night, returned from a seven-game absence due to a left ankle sprain on Wednesday and had a double-double with 11 points and 15 assists in a 117-100 win over the Grizzlies. Williams missed six games, played two, missed seven. Harris also has had ankle woes, missing three games.

"I know what he's capable of from college," Harris said of Williams, a fellow Big Ten product (Harris went to Wisconsin, Williams to Illinois). "I've always had success against him. I've had trouble with the smaller guards, not so much the big strong guys."

Williams, a pick-and-roll master, fits that big, strong mold. Nash comes under Harris' troublesome heading. Of course, Williams and Nash may groan at the thought of facing Harris, whose you've-got-to-be-kidding quickness and penetration skills have him getting to the line 11.3 times per game, more than anybody in the NBA not named Dwight Howard (12.1). As the primary return in the Jason Kidd deal last February, Harris is making the trade look like thievery. The Nets knew they were getting someone good. But this good?

"He can pretty much get anywhere he wants to on the court," said teammate Keyon Dooling.

"He's much better offensively than I thought he was coming to us," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "You always liked his quickness, how he gets to the basket. He can draw fouls, knows how to score. Heckuva offensive player."

Take Wednesday at Sacramento, when the Nets went from 17 up to six down before winning in overtime thanks to Harris. Harris stunk offensively for three-plus quarters, shooting 3-of-10. But he kept attacking. He made his last three shots, including an OT-forcing 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left and the eventual game-winning 12-footer with 12.7 seconds left in OT.

Now the Nets need it again. Tonight and tomorrow night.