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Adam Hunger/The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets guards Kyrie Irving and James Harden will not play Game Five against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
The Nets confirmed Irving’s absence on Monday, with coach Steve Nash telling reporters he had “no idea” if his star would return in the series. Shortly after Irving was disqualified due to an ankle injury he sustained in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Brooklyn also said Harden would not play in Game 5.
Word of Irving and Harden’s absence comes after ESPN’s Adrian Vojnarowski indicated on KJZ that the star is unlikely to be healthy enough to play in the pivotal match:
He noted that Harden had made “progress” in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
These injuries are a concern for the Brooklyn team in championship or bust mode. When one or both guards walk out, he puts pressure on Kevin Durant to carry the team.
Irving is one of the top offensive playmakers in the league as a seven-time All-Star player who can smash opponents from dribbling, hitting the ball from outside and making it easy when defenders collapse on him. He averaged 26.9 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 2020-21 for a Nets team that finished with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Harden did well in his first season with the team, averaging 24.6 points and 10.9 assists per game.
In the absence of Irving and Harden, look for Brooklyn to head toward Mike James and Andre Schmitt for more playtime while Durant tries to take on the offense.
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