DETROIT — First Spencer Dinwiddie got vindication.
Then he got a career benchmark — and a much-needed win.
Wednesday afternoon’s Last Two Minute Report showed that — as he’d claimed — Dinwiddie was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 9.5 seconds left in Tuesday’s loss to Minnesota.
His response was to hand out 16 assists in a 123-108 victory Wednesday at Detroit.
“I’ve been on that side of the report more times than I like,” said Dinwiddie, whose assists matched his career-high.
He just missed breaking his personal mark when Nic Claxton flubbed a layup in the fourth quarter, admitting “I knew how many assists I had.”
Dinwiddie had 10 assists without a single turnovers in the first quarter, the only player in the league this season with 10 assists in a quarter.
Since quarter stats were first tracked (1996-97), he’s the third Net with 10 assists in a quarter, joining Jason Kidd and Robert Pack.
It led the way for Brooklyn’s 36 assists to just 11 turnovers.
“Spence started it. What did he have, 10 assists in the first quarter. I mean that’s impressive. I asked him if he was going for 10 each quarter to get 40,” Royce O’Neale said. “That’s how we gotta play. It’s going to take all of us to win these games. Especially to get ready for playoffs. It’s going to take all of us to compete, play with one another, have fun with it.”
O’Neale got his first start since the All-Star break, and had 15 points, eight assists and seven boards.
He was standing in for injured Dorian Finney-Smith.
“[I found out] right before the game,” said O’Neale. “I mean, I always say whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, my game is not going to change. I do whatever I have to do for us to win. Whether playmaking or scoring or just playing defense. So, I mean, starting or not that’s who I am.”
Finney-Smith told The Post his injured wrist should be fine Friday vs. Orlando.
Joe Harris’ six 3-pointers in the first quarter were the most in a quarter by a Net this season.