Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash told reporters Monday star point guard Kyrie Irving will miss Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday due to a sprained right ankle. Nash isn't sure what Irving's status will be for the remainder of the series.
Kyrie Irving will miss Game 5 on Tuesday with a sprained right ankle, Steve Nash says. Irving had an MRI. Nash adds he has "no idea" whether or not he will be able to return in this series vs. Milwaukee.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 14, 2021
Irving suffered the ankle injury in the first half of Sunday afternoon's 107-96 Game 4 loss. The Nets star landed awkwardly on Giannis Antetokounmpo's foot and immediately went down in pain. Kyrie limped to the locker room and didn't return, ultimately leaving Fiserv Forum in a walking boot and on crutches.
Nash doesn't think Antetokounmpo did anything dirty on the play and characterized it as “awkward.”
Asked if it was a dirty play with Irving getting hurt, Nash says, "I wouldn't want to go in Giannis' head. I thought it was an awkward play." Said he doesn't believe it was intentional. #nets
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) June 14, 2021
Irving's injury is made even worse by the status of James Harden, who hasn't played since hurting his hamstring again right at the start of Game 1 against Milwaukee. Steve Nash had no update on Harden for Game 5, but the team soon announced after Nash's media availability that the star guard is also out. Harden has been doing on-court work as he rehabs his injury, but he's not ready yet.
With both Irving and Harden out for Game 5, it's going to be up to Kevin Durant to lead the way. KD will need some help, though, as the Bucks now have all the momentum in this series. It once looked like this series could be over fast after Brooklyn dominated the first two games, but now Milwaukee has tied things up and is in position to face a Nets squad missing two of its three superstars.
KD and this resilient Brooklyn team certainly shouldn't be counted out. The Nets dealt with injuries all season and only saw the Big 3 play eight games together before the playoffs, yet they still managed to win 48 games to get the No. 2 seed.
Still, this is a tough blow for their championship hopes.
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