MINNEAPOLIS _ Caris LeVert's breakout season was cut short in tragic fashion Monday night at Target Center when he suffered a gruesome-looking injury to his lower right leg. Television replays showed LeVert landing awkwardly as his leg bent grotesquely just above his right ankle.
The Nets public relations department issued an update saying LeVert "sustained a lower right leg injury" and was taken to a Minneapolis hospital to undergo a full evaluation.
Before LeVert's injury, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said this game would be a "test of character." It was all that and more after the Nets lost their best player.
They showed heart to fight back and cut a 10-point deficit to one midway through the fourth quarter, but that was as close as they got in a 120-113 loss that might be a harbinger of many more to come without LeVert in the lineup.
D'Angelo Russell led the Nets (6-8) with a season-high 31 points and six assists and hit a career-high nine of 15 3-pointers. Spencer Dinwiddie had 14 points before fouling out on a technical foul with 5:33 left, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 14 points and six rebounds.
Nets center Jarrett Allen sat out the game because of an illness, and Karl-Anthony Towns had his way on the inside to lead the Timberwolves (5-9) with 25 points and 21 rebounds. They also got 24 points and 11 assists from Jeff Teague and 23 points and six assists from Derrick Rose.
LeVert's injury occurred with 0.3 seconds left in the first half as he was attempting to stop a drive by rookie Josh Okogie. The two fell to the floor with LeVert landing atop Okogie as his right foot jammed into the floor. LeVert sat up in pain and reached for his right ankle area before collapsing back onto the floor.
The Nets' Russell immediately covered his head with his hands and walked toward the bench, where he sat down unable to look at the unfolding scene. Timberwolves players turned away and walked to their bench, where coaches told them not to think about the other team but to focus on themselves.
Medical personnel brought out a stretcher, but ultimately, LeVert was helped into a wheelchair and carted off to a standing ovation from the crowd.
From the start of training camp, Nets players and coaches raved about LeVert's work in the offseason and how he appeared poised for a breakout in his third NBA season. Coach Kenny Atkinson put him in the starting lineup, and LeVert delivered big-time, averaging 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists as the Nets got off to a 6-7 start. He scored at least 20 points in seven of his first nine games and set career-highs three times. LeVert had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in another stellar first-half effort against the Timberwolves.
But it appears the catastrophic injury he suffered could end his season and conceivably imperil his future. This marks the second straight season a star player for the Nets has sustained a season-ending injury. Jeremy Lin suffered a ruptured patella tendon in the opener last season, and even though the Nets improved by eight wins to 28-54, the season was a struggle.
This time around, the Nets were off to their best start since 2012-13 at 6-7, and LeVert was leading the way. They arrived in Minnesota hoping for a win that would give them a 3-1 cross-country road trip.
The Nets were hanging tough in a first half that saw eight lead changes before LeVert's injury. When they came out of the locker room in the third period, the Nets fought back to tie it at 82, but the T-Wolves put together an 11-1 run to take a 10-point lead just before the end of the third quarter.
