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The Brooklyn Nets got some good news on Thursday with James Harden, Paul Millsap and Jevon Carter exiting the NBA's health and safety protocols. This puts them in line to play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, Nets head coach Steve Nash doesn't envision Kevin Durant making it out of protocols in time for Christmas.
Nash said that while Brooklyn should have enough players to face the Lakers, he doesn't anticipate anybody else leaving protocols before that holiday game:
Steve Nash said the Nets have the eight available players needed to play Saturday. Doesn’t expect anyone else currently in protocol to come out before the Laker game.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) December 23, 2021
The Nets coach did say symptoms aren't really an issue for the players still out. Perhaps Durant will still be able to exit protocols and play in this big showdown, but as of right now, Nash isn't expecting it.
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Durant entered the league's protocols this past Saturday as part of Brooklyn's COVID-19 outbreak. Kyrie Irving entered protocols immediately upon his quest to rejoin the team as a part-time player, and it's unclear just when he'll be able to make his season debut. The Nets point guard remains unvaccinated and doesn't plan on getting vaccinated.
Brooklyn's last three games have been postponed due to the outbreak. The Nets were supposed to play on Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, but that game isn't happening, almost certainly in an attempt to save the Christmas game against Los Angeles.
Even despite all of the adversity, Brooklyn is still first in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-9. This is largely thanks to the brilliance of Durant, especially with Harden not looking like himself and Irving out. Unfortunately, it's not looking like NBA fans will receive the gift of watching Kevin Durant play LeBron James on Christmas.
