Nets’ LeVert sustains severe right leg injury in loss to T-Wolves

Minneapolis — Nets guard Caris LeVert (Michigan) sustained what appeared to be a severe right leg injury during the second quarter of Brooklyn’s game against Minnesota on Monday night and was taken to a hospital.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and a season-high 21 rebounds as the Timberwolves beat Brooklyn 120-113.

LeVert spent several minutes on the court being attended by medical personnel. Nets players surrounded their injured teammate before he was wheeled off the court.

“I just think it’s a devastating blow for us, for him. That’s all I really want to say about this,” Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Our thoughts should be with him and his recovery. And I really don’t want to talk about the game or anything else.”

LeVert was racing back to try to block a shot with 3.7 seconds remaining and his leg bent awkwardly when he landed. 

Replays of the gruesome injury were not shown in the arena.

The Nets said LeVert would undergo a full evaluation at the hospital and further updates would be issued as available.

A former first-round pick in his third season, LeVert was averaging a team-high 19 points entering the game. He had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists before suffering the injury with just a few seconds remaining before halftime.

“There were really just no words,” said Nets forward Joe Harris. “We didn’t talk even when we came in at halftime. There’s nothing really to be said. You could just feel it, the emotions from everybody. Guys were crying coming in, it was really that horrific just to see.”

As LeVert was on the court following his leg injury, Timberwolves player Anthony Tolliver huddled his teammates together for a prayer.

“It’s really a tough situation, because we all know that could be us,” Tolliver said. “We just know that sick feeling. We definitely wanted to do what we could. I got the guys together and prayed for him.”

Minnesota's Derrick Rose noted that he’s been on the court when three players suffered serious leg injuries: Paul George, Gordon Hayward and now LeVert.