Nets lose David Nwaba to Achilles injury as Spurs rally for victory

SAN ANTONIO -- Brooklyn shooting guard David Nwaba left a minute into the fourth quarter of theNets' 118-105 loss to theSan Antonio Spurson Thursday night with a torn right Achilles.

Coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed the injury in an emotional postgame availability, outside Brooklyn's locker room, after the Nets lost for the first time in three games.

"We can talk about the game, but I'm concerned about David Nwaba. He hurt himself out there tonight and that's really where our thoughts are," Atkinson said. "He was playing as well as anyone on our team."

Nwaba twisted his right ankle in a scramble for the ball near the top of the key. He was assisted off the court after initially lying in pain as play continued.

"It's a tough blow. We've been here before with injuries," Atkinson said. "But I just really feel for him."

The Nets received a career-high 41 points fromSpencer Dinwiddie, but it wasn't enough, as the Spurs rallied from a 14-point deficit.

Nwaba finished with four points, two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes. He's averaging 8.9 points and 16.8 minutes for the season.

"We talk about our defensive activity, and he's a big part of it," Atkinson said. "There's no guy on the team who does things more perfectly than him in terms of preparing for a game, preparing for a season. It makes you feel ill when you think about it."

The Nets are already short-handed without point guard Kyrie Irving, though Brooklyn -- even with the loss to the Spurs -- is 11-6 in Irving's absence.