After departing Saturday's contest against the Washington Wizards midway through the fourth quarter, Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has been diagnosed with a medial ligament sprain in his right knee and will miss at least the next week before being re-evaluated, the team announced Sunday.
The injury occurred as Irving attempted to secure a rebound, but he got caught up with Wizards guard Bradley Beal. The two tussled for possession, which led to Beal's weight forcing Irving's leg/knee into what appeared to be an uncomfortable direction. Irving remained on the ground for a few moments before eventually heading to the locker room.
It has been an injury-hampered first season in Brooklyn for Irving, who has played in just 20 of his team's first 48 games. A shoulder ailment previously kept him out of the mix, paving the way for Spencer Dinwiddie to take on an increased role in the offense, a role that he figures to reclaim over at least the next week while Irving is absent.
With a 21-27 record following play Saturday, the Nets remain in possession of the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. After a splashy offseason in which the team made headlines by inking Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan to free-agent deals, the team was expected to be better, even with KD sitting out all season.
Irving will miss at least his team's next three games, with Feb. 10 being the next contest that falls beyond the one-week timetable. But with the All-Star break fast approaching, Brooklyn could opt to play it safe, if Irving is even cleared to return in the near future.
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