Brooklyn Nets: 3 things to watch in 2nd trip to Washington

2. Lineup shuffle in wake of Harris injury

Joe Harris missed his first game this season when he sat out Friday night’s double-overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies with tightness in his left adductor.

Coach Kenny Atkinson was quick to downplay the severity of the issue.

Given the Brooklyn Nets’ somewhat spotty track record with reporting the severity of injuries (remember when Treveon Graham‘s hamstring strain wasn’t all that serious … six weeks ago and counting?), there is reason to be concerned about Harris’ status for the near term.

After all, the Nets said in August that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson‘s left adductor strain wasn’t serious and he might miss a week or two of workouts. He didn’t practice with the team until Oct. 11 and wasn’t cleared to return to action for another eight days after that.

Harris had started Brooklyn’s first 22 games at small forward and the Nets were also without Caris LeVert, who began the season as the Nets’ starter at shooting guard, for the ninth straight game.

Allen Crabbe had been starting in LeVert’s place, but Atkinson moved him from the 2 to the 3 Friday night and gave Spencer Dinwiddie his first start of the season, inserting him at the 2.

It was Dinwiddie’s first start since the penultimate game last season on April 9 against the Chicago Bulls, which was also the last time Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell started together.

But Crabbe got into early foul trouble, picking up three personals in the first 6:48, and most of Harris’ minutes wound up going to DeMarre Carroll, who played a season-high 39 minutes and finished with season-bests of 21 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting, hitting 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

Dinwiddie finished with 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting, going just 2-for-8 from deep, and had two turnovers — none bigger than losing the ball on the sideline on a side inbounds play with 6.1 seconds remaining in the first overtime and the game tied.

It was Brooklyn’s sixth different starting lineup of the season and their fifth in the last 10 games after going with LeVert, Harris, Russell, Jarrett Allen and Jared Dudley for the first 13 games.