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We're approaching tipoff before the showdown between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets. The 27-11 Bulls, led by stars DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, have a 2.5-game lead in the standings over Kevin Durant and the Nets. Brooklyn lost both matchups to Billy Donovan's unit so far. But this game is in Chicago and that means Kyrie Irving is at least eligible to play. But is Kyrie Irving playing vs. the Bulls?
Is Kyrie Irving playing vs. Bulls
Irving played in Portland on Monday, as the Nets suffered a 114-108 defeat to Anfernee Simons and company. After the game, head coach Steve Nash provided an update on Irving's ankle, which the superstar tweaked during a now=controversial diving play by Nassir Little:
Here is the diving play by Nassir Little that Kyrie Irving felt was ‘unnecessary.’ Irving rolled his left ankle but finished the game and said he’ll be available for Chicago. pic.twitter.com/4qOkQpEl6j
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) January 11, 2022
“Kyrie rolling his ankle, that doesn’t help, you add it up and it’s just a really tough ask,” said Nash, explaining why his team lost. Nash noted the Nets had a tough six-hour cross-country flight for their second game of a back-to-back; a difficult feature of having postponed games rescheduled due to COVID outbreaks from December.
So, will Kyrie suit up vs. the Bulls?
“We’ll see, you know, he’s alright, he finished the game but it was a pretty good little turn of the ankle,” admitted Nash right after the Blazers game.
Nash was already openly mindful of Irving's minute total heading into the game vs. the Blazers, who were without star Damian Lillard.
“It would be great if we didn't have to get [Irving] up to 40 [minutes] tonight,” added Nash prior to Monday's game. “At the same time, I think he's got the bulk of his preparation in his legs and is ready to play as much as needed.”
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Despite his head coach's preference, Irving would log a steep 40 minutes in what was a winnable game almost down to the wire. He finished with 22 points in his second game of the year.
Nash was also asked prior to the last contest if Irving was a full go from here on out.
“Yes and no,” said Nash. “Yes, but not necessarily with another game in Chicago in two nights. That's always something to be careful of, but you don't want to play him 44 minutes tonight then he's gotta turn around and play a big game on Wednesday. So we'll play him more minutes. But we would love for it to be gradual and a strategic allocation of minutes not just like, ‘Alright, great, we got a new Ferrari and we're gonna wrack up miles.'”
It's pretty clear that the Nets were already very mindful of not pushing Irving too much in what might be his third game of the season. And that was before he tweaked the ankle.
For what it's worth, Kyrie himself said he would be good to go against the Bulls:
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“I’ll be available for Chicago,”says Kyrie on his ankle.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) January 11, 2022
Speaking of his ankle, Irving did not appreciate the play from Portland's Nassir Little.
“I tried to get out of the way, but I just felt like that just — it was unnecessary, like for him to dive that far away to the ball, I was just trying to get out the way but just an unnecessary play,” said a frustrated Irving.
Little, for his part, clapped back on Twitter:
I would never hurt someone on purpose, I have the utmost respect for Kyrie! But y’all are delusional if you think this is a bad play, and id do it again. Idgaf what y’all talkin about https://t.co/kcChvvupG4
— Nassir Little (@2ez_nassie) January 11, 2022
At Wednesday's shootaround, there was still no official word on Irving, who is listed as questionable, as is James Harden with his knee hyperextension:
Steve Nash at shootaround had no updates on the playing status of Kyrie Irving, Nic Claxton and James Harden. That will be determined closer to tip-off. All practiced fully. How did they look? “Handsome,” Nash said.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 12, 2022
Steve Nash at shootaround had no updates on the playing status of Kyrie Irving, Nic Claxton and James Harden. That will be determined closer to tip-off. All practiced fully. How did they look? “Handsome,” Nash said.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 12, 2022
So for now, Nets fans can continue to wait and see if we'll get another Big Three game. It appears the answer may come down to the wire in Chicago for a 10:00 p.m. ET tip. Given how conservative the team hoped to be before Kyrie landed awkwardly, it wouldn't be a shock if he missed the game. But then again, Irving said he'll be available for Chicago, so that's the way we're leaning for now.
We expect Kyrie Irving to play tonight vs the Bulls.
