Jason Kidd injury: Veteran PG sits vs. Nets with back spasms, status unknown

Jason Kidd sat out of Monday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets with back spasms after starting in the New York Knicks' first 12 games, and the offense suffered in his absence.

With Kidd out, the team moved Kurt Thomas into the starting lineup and slid Ronnie Brewer and Carmelo Anthony down to shooting guard and small forward. Raymond Felton played 42 minutes in the 89-85 loss and shot the Knicks out of the game, going 3-for-19 from the field with multiple ill-advised shots in the fourth quarter and overtime. Pablo Prigioni, typically the third-string point guard behind the two-guard lineup of Felton and Kidd, failed to score in 11 minutes while tallying one assist. Without Kidd, the offense seemed to lack the cohesion and ball movement that had guided them through the early going, only assisting on 14 of 33 makes while turning the ball over 14 times.

The extent of Kidd's injury is unclear. He did not travel with the team to the game. Although his numbers aren't eye-popping -- 8.0 points and 3.4 assists per game -- the 18-year veteran has provided a steadying figure for the team's backcourt and shot 50 percent from three-point land.