NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 22: Spencer Dinwiddie # 26 of the Brooklyn Nets dribles during the … [+]
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Just three games into their season, the Nets have suffered a brutal loss.
Guard Spencer Dinwiddie suffered an ACL partial tear to his right knee during a 106-104 loss Sunday night at Charlotte, the team announced Monday.
“Further updates will be provided following surgery, which is scheduled for next week,” the team said.
The Athletic first reported on the news.
Dinwiddie suddenly went down in the third quarter and grabbed his knee. He walked off the court under his own power with 10:12 left in the third.
Last season, Dinwiddie averaged 20.6 points at career level and 6.8 assists per game while starting 49 of 64 games and helping the Nets reach the playoffs in the Orlando bubble. He averaged 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists this year.
“It means a lot,” Jarrett Allen told reporters on Zoom’s call after the game. “When Spencer goes, he can’t be stopped. His offensive game, when he goes down a slope creating shots for others. And even off the court everyone loves Spencer being around. He has the energy, just his good personality for the locker room.
“I don’t know what’s going on with him so whenever he comes back, whenever he’s strong, he’ll try to come back as soon as possible.”
Dinwiddie has a $ 12.3 million player option for 2021-22, so the Nets can either pick up or let him become a free agent unhindered.
Without Dinwiddie, head coach Steve Nash could choose to move Caris LeVert back to the starting lineup. LeVert has come off the bench as the Sixth Man, averaging 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists.