Brooklyn Nets to be without Kyrie Irving, James Harden for Game 5 against Milwaukee Bucks

NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets’ Massive Three has been whittled all the way down to only one — Kevin Durant — for a pivotal Sport 5 of their second-round playoff collection towards the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Kyrie Irving has been dominated out of the competition at Barclays Heart after an MRI confirmed that he suffered a sprained proper ankle in Sunday’s Sport 4. James Harden, who strained a hamstring in Sport 1, additionally stays out.

Coach Steve Nash stated he has “no concept” whether or not Irving will probably be obtainable to play later on this Japanese Convention semifinal collection, which is tied at 2-2 after consecutive Bucks wins.

“I’ve to attend and see the way it progresses, I feel,” Nash stated. “After which the specialists must wait and see the way it progresses and provide you with a clearer image on what the window could be for his return.”

Irving was injured halfway by way of the second quarter Sunday when he landed awkwardly on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot after making a layup over Jrue Vacation. Antetokounmpo crashed the paint in what seemed to be an try to assist Vacation, who was the first defender.

Nash stated that whereas he didn’t need to predict Antetokounmpo’s intentions on the play, it seemed to be “awkward.”

“I do know he ended up getting beneath Kyrie whereas he was within the air,” Nash stated. “I feel it will be an enormous stretch for me to take a seat right here and say he meant to do this in any approach. I don’t imagine that’s the kind of particular person he’s, neither is [it] what I imagine occurred. It was awkward and unlucky.”

Irving remained on the bottom for a number of minutes as Nash and the staff’s athletic trainers attended to him. Irving walked to the locker room with out help however was limping.

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Kendrick Perkins says Kevin Durant should present he’s the most effective participant on the earth for the Nets to beat the Bucks with out James Harden or Kyrie Irving.

Nash stated that Harden, who has been sidelined since June 5, was understanding as he was talking to reporters Monday. On Sunday, Nash stated that the staff would attempt to strategy the accidents as remoted incidents and never let Irving’s ankle sprain rush Harden again to the ground earlier than his hamstring is absolutely healed. Earlier than Sunday’s recreation, Nash stated that Harden was doing on-court work, capturing and nonetheless working by way of his rehabilitation. Nash stated that whereas Harden was progressing towards a return, he nonetheless wanted to finish a number of high-intensity exercises with none regression earlier than being cleared to play.

The Nets have battled accidents all season. Durant has performed in 5 video games this season with out each Harden and Irving. In these video games, he averaged practically 34 factors per recreation, in response to ESPN Stats & Info analysis. He shot an environment friendly 63% from the ground.

“I’ve simply bought to be ready to do the whole lot on the market identical to any night time,” Durant stated Monday.

The Nets received 4 of the 5 video games during which Durant was the only member of the Massive Three to play. Brooklyn received these video games by a median of 9.4 factors.

“We positively wasn’t planning on not having our guys presently,” Durant stated. “However, we’re all professionals and we’ve to adapt to any scenario … Within the fifth recreation of a collection, it’s identical to, ‘All proper, let’s go play.’ So, I feel all of us have that mentality and go ahead and hoop.”