The Brooklyn Nets have been ravaged by COVID-19 recently, even if you wouldn't know it from their first-place record. Sitting at 21-9, Brooklyn is a game and a half ahead of the second-place Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference.

Let's get you the absurd recap of how things have gone recently:

First it was Paul Millsap who tested positive ahead of the game against the Toronto Raptors. Then, five more Nets, including LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre' Bembry, Jevon Carter, and James Johnson, were declared out.

On Tuesday evening, just an hour before tipoff, James Harden and Bruce Brown were added to the list.

The Nets would play with a skeleton crew over the next couple of games. Blake Griffin talked about how being told you've tested positive for the virus is like getting in trouble in class:

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The team's response to this presumed wave of the Omicron variant? The latest from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Baxter Holmes:

As Brown and Harden awaited testing clearance to return, the Nets, concerned about their remaining players wearing down from playing too many minutes — namely Durant — opted to make a bold move.

They turned to Kyrie Irving.

Yes, the Nets decided to bring back Irving, but that was before we learned both Irving and Kevin Durant had to enter protocols. The irony of calling up Irving to fill in for fully vaccinated yet unavailable players only for him to test positive upon arrival was truly script-worthy stuff.

As games started being postponed, another few players entered protocol, including Kessler Edwards, David Duke Jr., and Cam Thomas. Duke especially had made the most of his recent opportunity:

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These players (besides Irving) are all vaccinated, and Bruce Brown, as Woj notes, dealt with COVID (probably another variant) back in September. So we can infer that the team was fully exposed, that vaccination may be preventing more severe illness but not necessarily infection, and that the players exposed appear to have different incubation times where they'd register a positive test. Durant, for example, continued to test negative three or four days after his teammates.

As we all acclimate to a new “normal,” it seems like this is the type of stuff that's going to continue to impact this season. So the season marches on, and addressing reporters Thursday morning, coach Steve Nash said the team is expecting to play the Lakers on Christmas.

“The plan is fly to Los Angeles tomorrow and play for Christmas,” said Nash.

Nash added that the team should have eight players available since they got good news with James Harden, Jevon Carter, and Paul Millsap coming out of protocols. Because the Nets signed Shaquille Harrison, Wenyen Gabriel, Langston Galloway, and James Ennis, that seven plus Patty Mills makes the required eight bodies available for the Christmas Day tilt in L.A:

By the way, where would this team be without Patty Mills this season? The Aussie veteran has been simply awesome on the court and an invaluable emotional leader in the locker room.

KD, Mills, and company got the job done over the Raptors and Sixers recently. Now, assuming Durant indeed isn't out of protocols in time, it will be Harden, Carter,  Mills, Millsap, and the newly acquired dudes looking to cobble it together in a tough matchup against King James.

The NBA no doubt hoped for a holiday showdown featuring the Nets' big three versus James and Anthony Davis (out with a knee injury). They'll have to settle for The Beard and the King. But hey, at least it's not postponed entirely. It's going to be tough sledding for the Nets. But there exists some light at the end of the tunnel. The full roster seems like it will be available as soon as they're all healthy… at least for away games.