On July 11, 2012, the Nets re-signed Lopez to a four-year, $61 million contract extension. Lopez got off to a hot start in 2012, scoring 27 points in the season opener against the Toronto Raptors. He followed that performance by scoring 20 or more points in seven of the next twelve games, before injuring his ankle in a win over the Boston Celtics on November 28. The Nets struggled to a 2-5 record without Lopez before he returned on December 14. He began to play well again in late December, posting three straight 20 point, 10 rebound games, including a 35-point, 11 rebound performance in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 29.