Nets' Dinwiddie undergoes thumb surgery

Brooklyn Nets sixth man Spencer Dinwiddie had surgery Monday to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb. The team announced that Dr. Michelle Carlson performed the operation at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery.

While the Nets did not specify a timetable for Dinwiddie's return to action, various media reports pegged his absence at three to six weeks or four to six weeks. The fifth-year point guard met with two specialists and both recommended surgery, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday.

Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said Sunday, "Obviously I feel terrible for Spencer because he was playing great. ... We've also found some gems (as fill-ins for injured players). We've somehow managed to fill the gap and be resilient. We've just got to do it again." Dinwiddie, 25, is averaging a career-high 17.2 points with 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in 49 games season (four starts). He already has posted the second-most points ever by a Nets reserve in a single season.

He sustained the injury about two months ago and it grew progressively worse, according to Atkinson. The Nets had won six games in a row heading into Monday's game against the Celtics in Boston.

--Field Level Media