Injury to Nets’ LeVert not as bad as was first feared
Warriors win without suspended Green; Cavs earn second victory
NEW YORK — Caris LeVert’s injury wasn’t as bad as it looked.
The Brooklyn Nets said Tuesday their leading scorer suffered only a dislocation of his right foot and no fractures, and he could return this season.
That’s far better than what was feared when LeVert’s leg appeared to bend in a gruesome manner after he leaped to block a shot in the final seconds of the first half of Monday night’s game in Minnesota.
“While the optics of this injury may have appeared to be more severe, surgery will not be required,” team orthopedist Dr. Martin O’Malley said in a statement.
O’Malley examined LeVert on Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery diagnosed the thirdyear swingman with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot.
O’Malley said there was only moderate ligament damage and that following a period of rehabilitation, LeVert was expected to return to full strength and resume all basketball activities without any limitations this season.
LeVert’s injury initially appeared similar to the severe leg injuries suffered in recent years by Paul George and Gordon Hayward, and players prayed and some were in tears as a stretcher was brought onto the court to take LeVert to a hospital.
But he was able to return to New York with the Nets later Monday.
LeVert, who battled foot injuries in college at Michigan before emerging as a first-round pick, had been the Nets’ best player during their promising start. He is averaging 18.4 points and is the only player in the league this season to convert multiple goahead baskets with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation or overtime.
Tuesday night
WARRIORS 110, HAWKS 103: In Oakland, Calif., Golden State’s Kevin Durant scored a team-high 29 points to lead the Warriors to a victory over Atlanta.
Golden State played without star Draymond Green, who was suspended one game without pay for conduct detrimental to the team following an altercation a night earlier with Durant in Los Angeles against the Clippers, though general manager Bob Myers declined to offer specifics on the All-Star forward’s behavior that was considered going too far. Myers and Steve Kerr collaborated on the decision.
“We just felt like this rose to the level of acting the way we did,” Myers said, noting of Green: “He was professional. He loves to play basketball, which is all you can ask of him.” CAVALIERS 113, HORNETS 89: In Cleveland, the Cavaliers are dealing with so many injuries they needed an assistant coach to suit up for practice Monday.
A little over 24 hours later they did just fine with their healthy players.
Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, and Tristan Thompson had 21 rebounds and 11 points as Cleveland won for the second time this season, beating Charlotte.
The Cavaliers (2-11) broke a five-game losing streak. Cleveland’s first win came against Atlanta on Oct. 30.
Cleveland’s injury list grew longer while the losses piled up. Forwards Kyle Korver (sore right foot) and Cedi Osman (back spasms) didn’t play Tuesday and are the most recent additions.
All-Star forward Kevin Love (foot surgery), starting point guard George Hill (hamstring) and forward Sam Dekker (ankle) have also been sidelined. ROCKETS 109, NUGGETS 99: In Denver, James Harden scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half as Houston pulled away to beat Denver, sending the Nuggets to a fourth straight loss.
Harden also had 11 assists, with several going to Clint Capela, who led the Rockets with 24 points, including a series of dunks. Chris Paul added 21 points for Houston, playing for a third straight game without Carmelo Anthony because of what the team said was an illness.