Dinwiddie returns to Brooklyn

Spencer Dinwiddie made his Barclays Center return Monday after five seasons with the Nets, greeted warmly with applause when he was introduced.

Healthy after a torn ACL and lucrative offseason move to the Wizards, he had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds against his old team.

“He looks great. I’m really happy, excited for him. No one wants to see him to miss much time with a tough injury. To have him come back and look 100 percent and look like his old self is great news,” coach Steve Nash said. “He’s a great athlete, can playmake and score, and I think he’s a great piece for them.”

The Nets held Dinwiddie to

3 of 13 shooting in their best defensive effort of the season. James Harden started at the point, but several Nets got a shot to guard Dinwiddie, even switchable center Nic Claxton forcing him into a missed 3.

“It’s good to see who you are early in the season especially going into this next game. We’re gonna play four teams that [were] in the playoffs last year. It was good to start the season off just seeing where you are individually and playing against different types of players,” Kevin Durant said. “You get guys like Brad [Beal] and Spencer who can put pressure on you and having them guard. That stuff is fun just gauging yourself individually and as a team.”

Dinwiddie entered Monday averaging 23.5 points and 7.5 assists. He suffered a torn ACL last Dec. 27 against Boston, the third game of the season. While there were reports that he would return for the playoffs, Nash put those to rest in saying it was never considered.

“I just didn’t think that was fair to Spencer,” Nash said. “I think these ... he had the perfect scenario in a sense. I think that ACLs people say six months you can be cleared to play. I think there’s a two-, three-month window after that where you should play in a safe environment before you really are committed to playing.

“I personally didn’t like it, I don’t think anyone on our medical staff thought it was fair to Spencer. And I think if it jeopardizes the situation he’s in right now it’s not fair to Spencer. So we didn’t bring it up. We thought it was best to have his time to heal and further his career.”