Brooklyn Nets: Allen Crabbe a game-time call; progress for Caris LeVert

The Brooklyn Nets may have to adjust their starting lineup Friday against the Washington Wizards, as Allen Crabbe is questionable with a sore right knee.

Starting guard Allen Crabbe will be a game-time call Friday night for the Brooklyn Nets when they host the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center.

Crabbe was injured in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 127-124 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center when he banged his right knee off the floor after being fouled by Amir Johnson while shooting after a drive to the basket.

Crabbe stayed in the game and made both free throws and played five minutes in the fourth quarter, but landed on the injury report with a sore right knee as a result of the hard landing, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Allan Crabbe, who has been red hot lately, is questionable for tomorrow with a sore right knee. #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) December 13, 2018

Crabbe scored 20 points in 31 minutes in the victory over the 76ers, hitting 5-of-10 overall and 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

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The timing of the injury is unfortunate for Crabbe, who had found his 3-point stroke of late after struggling mightily following his return from a preseason ankle injury.

Crabbe has averaged 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 30.5 minutes per game over his last seven games, shooting 44.1 percent overall and a sizzling 52 percent from 3-point range.

That came after he had shot just 30.6 percent overall and 33.1 percent from deep over his first 21 appearances of the season, averaging 8.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game.

Crabbe has started every game for Brooklyn since Nov. 14, 14 straight games in all. He moved into the lineup when Caris LeVert went down with a dislocated right foot in a Nov. 12 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.

Spencer Dinwiddie would seem to be the most likely candidate to get the start if Crabbe is out or limited. Dinwiddie made three starts recently when small forward Joe Harris was out with a hip injury, with Crabbe shifting to Harris’ vacated spot at the 3 and Dinwiddie opening at the 2 spot.

Speaking of LeVert, the third-year guard who was leading Brooklyn in scoring at the time of his injury, is making progress in his recovery. According to Michael Scotto of The Athletic (subscription required), LeVert appeared at a function for his 22 initiative mentoring group on Thursday.

He was not in a walking boot and was moving without a noticeable limp, per the report. That follows reports from last weekend that LeVert is back in the gym shooting.

Caris LeVert injury update: "I know he's in the gym shooting. I'll say that. That's about as much as I can say. But progressing, on schedule and looking forward to having him back," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/b9cwrPfceC
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 9, 2018

There is no timetable for a LeVert return, but he is expected to be back this season.

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Also without a timetable yet is wing Treveon Graham, who hasn’t played since Oct. 19 with a left hamstring injury. Graham has missed 27 games thus far.