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Brooklyn Nets: Allen Crabbe downgraded to doubtful; Treveon Graham progress

By Phil Watson

Brooklyn Nets Allen Crabbe. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets Allen Crabbe. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Brooklyn Nets have listed guard Allen Crabbe as doubtful for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with a sore right knee.

It appears Brooklyn Nets guard Allen Crabbe could miss a second consecutive game with a sore right knee after he was listed as doubtful for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center.

Meanwhile, wing Treveon Graham appears to be inching closer to a return from a strained left hamstring sustained in the Nets’ home-opening victory over the New York Knicks on Oct. 19.

Crabbe had been listed as questionable prior to Friday night’s 125-118 win at home over the Washington Wizards after banging his right knee hard on the Wells Fargo Center floor in Wednesday night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported the update:

Crabbe was driving toward the basket when he got tangled with 76ers center Amir Johnson while taking a shot. Crabbe’s right leg whipped into the floor when he came down parallel to the floor and he did remain on the floor for a few moments before shooting his free throws.

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He was hurt in the third quarter of the game in Philadelphia, but did remain in the game after the fall and came back in later. As is common for that sort of fall trauma, the knee felt worse the day after the injury.

Rookie forward Rodions Kurucs started by place of Crabbe, who had made 14 consecutive starts since replacing injured Caris LeVert in the lineup. Joe Harris shifted into Crabbe’s vacated spot at the 2.

The timing of the injury was unfortunate for Crabbe, who had started to recover his shooting touch after struggling mightily early in the season.

Crabbe missed the final two games of the preseason as well as the regular-season opener with a sprained left ankle and had difficulty finding his shooting rhythm.

In seven games in October, Crabbe shot just 25.9 percent overall and made 30.6 percent of his 3-point attempts.

He improved in November to 32.8 percent overall and 35.2 percent from deep over the 15 games he appeared. In six December starts, he had heated up considerably, hitting 45 percent overall and a sizzling 52.3 percent from long range.

Crabbe has averaged 14.8 points in 31.7 minutes per game this month after entering December at 8.0 points in 24.6 minutes a night.

Two of Crabbe’s three games with 20 or more points scored have come this month as well, a 22-point outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 5 and 20 points in the game against Philadelphia when he hurt the knee.

His season high of 27 points came in a road loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 21.

As a fill-in, Kurucs had a solid performance with 15 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes. The points and minutes totals were career-highs for Brooklyn’s second-round pick, while the six boards matched his previous best set on Oct. 20 in a road loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Graham was assigned Saturday to the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League for the affiliate club’s practice in advance of a Sunday night home game against the Maine Red Claws. First-round pick Dzanan Musa was also re-assigned to Long Island at the same time.

Graham has missed Brooklyn’s last 28 games since injuring his hamstring on a drive to the basket second quarter against the Knicks on Oct. 19.

The third-year pro is a former undrafted free agent from VCU and played the 2015-16 season with the Idaho Stampede in what was then known as the NBA Developmental League.

He earned a roster spot with the Charlotte Hornets the following year and spent two seasons with them before signing with Brooklyn as a free agent in July.

Graham had played 27 minutes in the Nets’ first two games with four rebounds. He had missed all three of his shots, including two 3-pointers. He entered the season a 43.8 percent career shooter from long range and hit 41.2 percent for Charlotte last season.

Graham is a big presence as a perimeter defender at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and is a versatile enough defender to guard 1 through 4. His return would add to Brooklyn’s defensive options in small lineups.

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There is no timetable for Graham’s return, nor is it clear whether he will see any action for Long Island on Sunday night.