With Spencer Dinwiddie’s return to the court Friday, the Nets were finally healthy for the first timඣe since their opener. Their 2017 opener, that is.
Dinwiddie jumped right back into the rotation after missing a month due to thumb surgery. He had 15 points and four assists, but the Nets still lost a must-have game against Charlotte, 123-112 at Barclays Center.
“I felt fine,” Dinwiddie said. “But obviously it ain’t about me. It’s about giving up 68 poi🌠nts in the first half, and not getting enough stops in that thir🍒d quarter when (Nicolas) Batum went on a run while we were cutting the deficit.”
After Dinwiddie had 🧸surgery Jan. 28 to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb, experts told The Post he shou💧ld be back within six weeks. He made it back in four.
“He was playing like one of our best players, having an🥃 outstanding year. Speed, size, athleticism. … He gives us another elite athlete that will really help our athleticism,” Kenny Atkinson sai💖d.
Dinwiddie said, “(D’Angelo Russell) obviously playing at a high level, Caris (LeVert) is working back into form. They’re going to do what they do༺. Our focus and sights are set on the playoffs and trying to win as many games as possible, and trying to be that team that not only makes it, but strikes a little fear into some of those top seeds’ heart.”
And unlike during LeVert’s return from a dislocated foot, the fact that Dinwiddie could run and do on-court work while missing 1🧜4 straight games let him go right back to major minutes, loggi🥃ng 23:17.
Now 🐎the Nets have to juggle their rotations yet again.
“Yeah it’🌄s tough whe𒁃n you’ve got guys coming back full go and you’ve got to figure out how to throw them in the rotation and make it work at the same time,” said Russell. “That’s the struggle right there of figuring it out and trying to win games and win possessions at the same time.
With Dinwiddie’s return following comebacks by LeVert and Allen Crabbe, the Nets have a glut on the perimeter. The most immediate victim will be Shabazz Napier, who has done yeoman’s work but logged just 3:53. It will squeeze backup forwards Jared Dudley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson; Dudl❀ey was a DNP.
“It’s go🐷od,” said Crabbe. “It’s good to have a full healthy squad right now. You never want to see your teammates go out with injuries. It’s good to have him back; just brings another weapon for us, offensively and defensively.”