Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is slated to miss Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Shenzhen, China with a facial contusion, according to Ian Begley of SNY. Nets teammate Caris LeVert, who was poked in the eye during Thursday's game, is questionable to play in the second of two games against the purple and gold.
Irving lasted only a minute of preseason action after being hit in the face by Rajon Rondo. The All-Star point guard quickly called for a substitution after having suffered a facial fracture earlier in the offseason, which forced him to miss part of training camp. While he was wearing a clear mask, this was one of many times the 27-year-old has suffered damage to the face, as he was also forced to wear a mask during his stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
The Nets said they're not too worried about his injury, but will likely play a careful hand, considering they will need their starting point guard in full health as they get ready to tackle the 2019-20 season without their biggest acquisition of the summer in Kevin Durant, who was ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
LeVert's eye-poke could be a matter of sensitivity and how he feels before the game, though he's not expected to log very heavy minutes during an exhibition game. Both players exited Thursday's game after a minute of playing time, forcing the Nets to hold on with their reserves, which they did with a 114-111 win.
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