Nets’ Dinwiddie to miss time with partial ACL tearon December 28, 2020 at 6:45 pm

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie has been diagnosed with a partially torn right ACL, the team announced on Monday. He is scheduled to have surgery next week.

Dinwiddie was injured in the third quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets when he drove against Bismack Biyombo and planted his leg awkwardly. Dinwiddie was on the floor for a moment, grabbing his right knee, and then hobbled over to the sidelines. After being evaluated on the Nets’ bench for a few minutes, he went back to the locker room and was ruled out for the rest of the game with what the team called a right knee sprain.

Further testing on Monday morning revealed the partial tear. Dinwiddie is expected to miss an extended amount of time, and his ability to return this season will be dependent on his rehabilitation, sources said.

Dinwiddie has experienced ACL injuries before. During his junior year at Colorado, Dinwiddie tore his left ACL in a game against Washington and missed the remainder of the season. At the time, he led the team in minutes played, scoring and assists.

Last season, Dinwiddie stepped in as a key starter for the Nets. With Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert missing stretches of the season with shoulder and thumb injuries, respectively, Dinwiddie stewarded Brooklyn’s starting unit, starting in 49 games.

He was diagnosed with COVID-19 in late June and did not travel to Orlando with the team for the season restart.

This season, the 27-year-old guard started both preseason games and all three regular-season games for the Nets. Dinwiddie is averaging 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and three assists in 21.3 minutes of playing time this season. He has a $12.3 million player option for the 2021-22 season.

LeVert, who was a starter for Brooklyn in the 2019-20 season, will likely replace Dinwiddie in the Nets’ starting lineup. Brooklyn plays Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

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