4:57pm: The X-rays on Irving’s ankle came back negative, head coach Steve Nash said, as relayed by ESPN’s Malika Andrews (Twitter link). He will undergo further treatment and testing for the injury. Rachel Nichols of ESPN reported that Irving left the arena in a walking boot and crutches.
3:53pm: Nets All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving severely rolled his right ankle when he landed on the foot of Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during a floater attempt during the second quarter of Game 4 of their second-round series on Sunday.
Malika Andrews of ESPN tweets that Irving will miss the second half of a crucial contest in Milwaukee. The Nets lead the series 2-1, as of this writing.
Irving joins fellow All-Star ball handler James Harden among the growing list of injured Nets as these playoffs continue. Harden remains sidelined with a right hamstring strain that kept him out of 18 games during the regular season and has kept him out of all but 43 seconds of this Bucks series.
The recovery timelines for Irving and Harden are currently murky, though Nets head coach Steve Nash said ahead of today’s game that Harden was “progressing in the right direction,” per Malika Andrews of ESPN. Nash stated that Harden has moved on to on-court workouts and shooting drills.
“When he’s able to get up to full speed and do it for two or three days without recurrence or setback … then I think that’s kind of the marker,” he said of establishing a recovery timeline.
Reserve point guard Mike James started in the place of Irving during the game’s second half. Another second-half starting adjustment came from head coach Steve Nash in the form of forward Jeff Green getting the nod ahead of shooting guard Bruce Brown, to provide more two-way firepower around incumbent starters Joe Harris (now the nominal starting shooting guard) and Blake Griffin (center), plus lone remaining healthy Nets All-Star Kevin Durant.
Rachel Nichols of ESPN tweets that Nash suggested to his team during the halftime break that the club would need to compensate for Irving’s scoring “by committee.”
When you comprise a team that has a fat former MVP who quit on his previous team, and a guy whose body is made of glass, what did you expect that was going to happen? Bucks just seem more physical and Giannis having his supporting cast show up makes this a dangerous team, with or without Fat Harden and One Knee Kyrie.
I’m honestly surprised it took this long for another injury to happen. This is why I was comfortable picking Philly to go to the finals. I don’t think Nets can stay healthy long enough.
coming from a fan of a team that has their best player playing on a partially torn meniscus, ofcourse you’re biased. But if you’re being honest, the best pick to come out of the east if you’re factoring talent, depth and less chance at getting injured is the Bucks. Giannis is young and durable.
Let me know when Giannis learns how to play in the half court, although he did do better things in game 3 and 4 of the first round. He doesnt necessarily need to add the jumper that consistently, or even score as much in the post, although the latter is more important, as much as catching the ball closer to the paint, and being more of a facilitator
I’ve long said Middleton and Jrue Holiday need to be their best player
I am no GA fan either, but that is an odd thing to have said any time. Players are what they are. Nobody has changed. Maybe the coach could have stressed different things, but—-
I am getting tired of criticism of HC Bud that are not more specific; I see it on the Athletic too, and by DXC. Formerlyz would probably say something about rotations and wings, but some people are just saying the popular thing to say without really knowing. Anyway I think Middleton has been more central of late; less wingy; more PnR.
Bud should adjust more but how? Just any adjustment, when plan A fails?
I suspect this lose 2, win 2 may be about officiating, not who can carry a team best, or tactics.
given how Embiid has played since, its pretty clear that said tear is on the low end of the spectrum, and perhaps he’s had it for some time now.
Wait until Embiid gets hurt again, then feel free to check back with us.
“Steve Nash noted ahead of today’s game that Harden was “progressing in the right direction”
It’s actually super hard to progress in the wrong direction.
But if anyone can do it…
I know your schtick is to point out irony in people’s comments or quotes. But you played yourself here.
There are many ways to progress. His use of “right direction” indicates that he is progressing as they desire or expect.
Oh man, you sure got me there.
Boy I feel so bad for Kyrie . Go Bucks
Why would anybody ever feel bad for Kyrie?
It’s called sarcasm.
Brown Trout. Why do you have so much disdain for a man who doesn’t even know you exist? Or maybe I answered my own question.
do you reserve criticism for politicians or historical figures because they dont know who you are?
If the Nets cannot get back Kyrie or Harden for the next couple of games, they are cooked.
How so? The two wins at home by the Bucks were by a combined 14 points, their two losses were by a combined 47 points. Even as short-handed as they are, the Nets will still be favored in game 5 (a must-win for Milwaukee).
Dude Nets are not winning without Harden n Kyrie. That sprain means two gms. Harden has been out of shape all yr. it’s over for Nets. Beastie Boys
Nets need to go Back To Bklyn. No sleep Till Bklyn
link to music.youtube.com
Ya I’m not sure that’s 100% true, even though I picked Milwaukee before the series…losing Harden helped them, and although they could use Kyrie’s scoring, Bruce Brown, Tyler Johnson, TLC are upgrades defensively, and all of those guys, plus Shamet can still knock down shots, and they arent ball stoppers, so they can play off KD getting catches at the elbow or lower, in half court situations…
If Steve Nash doesmt know how to use his players, that hurts them, regardless of who plays or doesnt play, outside of Kevin Durant, who has been amazing all season, when he has played
Today Irving was their second leading scorer having played 17 minutes, and no one except for him and Durant reached double figures. In the previous game Bruce Brown got 16, but otherwise no one except for Durant and Irving got more than 5 points. Perhaps back in Brooklyn the rest of the team will re-find their touch, but for me, if Irving and Harden miss the next two games, it is 100% Milwaukee.
Really you got Nets without Harden and Kyrie. This series is over in 6. Kyrie not playing next gm for sure. I doubt Harden can go. Even if Harden goes. Bucks don’t deserve to move on if they can’t take advantage of this. Nets are done.
If this is a reply to me, I didnt say that lol
You have the Nets winning this series without Fat Harden and Kyrie??? Might be the dumbest thing you’ve said in a while on here….
Not sure why Mike James would get those minutes ahead of Tyler Johnson, or even potentially Shamet, but that goes back to what I’ve said about Steve Nash, who took a long time to figure out that Bruce Brown should play, and then should start. Also wondering what happened to TLC, who has disappeared since a couple of months ago
Hamstrings do not heal like other injuries. Do not count on Harden coming back. Hamstrings are absolutely from not being in shape. I said it long ago. It’s arrogant to think you can just comeback for playoffs and win. Look at Lakers their run is over. And it’s time to redo it rebuild again. Playoffs are a different animal. Nets with no Kyrie now. Also done. Bucks have lucked out again. I really thought Jrue would make the difference. There’s a softness to this team. Wish I was wrong. They should beat Nets now. Lucked out again. But they will not beat Sixers. Sixers are not soft. They will play all out. There’s something about Bucks that I just don’t see champions, sorry.
It’s wide open now though, every team has a weakness.
Nets big three have that killer instinct. I don’t see it in Bucks. Bron has it I don’t see it in AD or PG. When it comes to playoffs. You gotta have those guys that only want to win. Pass, reb, make a stop, make a play, make a bucket. I agree it’s wide open. There’s no dominant team now.
You are very correct here ….. Something with the Bucks is just off …. The Harden injury should have been enough for the Bucks to be in control ….. instead, they were cooked until Kyrie got hurt …. They will then get an equally soft Philly team that has an incredible player in Embiid and a lot of question marks after that. Tobias Harris is Philly 2nd best player not Ben “I can’t score” Simmons. Milwaukee will get rocked in 5 games by Utah in the Finals.
The main thing for me is that the Bucks have got their confidence back.
Two wins will do it. No longer hanging their heads. It’s definitely a game of runs, and it’s a matter of a win or two in the playoffs that changes everything. Been exciting to watch both the East and the West this season. Can’t say I would have said that in previous years. This has Been a lot of fun.
They also have the refs back. Let’s be honest Silver saw that game 2 and said we need to stretch this out. Dirty play by Gino he needs to sit for a game but it wont happen. Absolute joke.
should start calling him zaza pachulia
It’s so entertaining to read the comments on this website. (Mine included of course not pointing the finger at anybody else.) But a few days ago the Bucks were horrible, coach should be fired, and they made terrible decisions in putting guys around Giannis.
A couple days later, the Nets are horrible they need to rebuild, terrible coaching decisions etc etc.
It’s still amazing how many injuries are part of these playoffs. Every team has them whether it’s their Stars or secondary guys. Well actually it’s been the stars that have been getting hurt come to think of it. Anyway, that’s part of it and every team has suffered, so let the last team standing raise the trophy.
Now KD needs to prove he can carry a team. Curry carried the warriors to a play in and people said he was soft. Lebron couldn’t carry the Lakers without AD. KD has a chance to be the man to carry a team on his shoulders. let’s see if he can do it.
KD has carried them to this point, so the idea he cant carry is poor. Now that he knows how to score in the halfcourt, and not let little guys guard him, the way he did in OKC, he should be fine. The issue is him being on an island alone as their only defender, at times
If lebron did not suffer a high ankle sprain, maybe, he could have still performed better. But they would still lose vs. the suns ’cause its clear now, suns were really showing why they are no. 2 western team in win-loss record in the regular season, with the sweeping of the nuggets in the 2nd round of the playoffs!
Well, if it helps, I’ve stuck to the same opinion that neither of them are that good
Bud needs to get to the finals or I think he will be fired. He is lucky to be coaching this season but unfortunately for him this season has a tougher road than the previous 2.
KD cant win a game w/o 2 other all-stars shocking
pj tucker on fire, almost burnt fiserv forum to the ground.
Refs are letting them play 90s bball, kinda nice.
Couldnt happen to a better guy
The Earth is flat tho
Nash might have to suit up!
If the Nets had their big three healthy, they were easy favourites. all they needed was for this not to happen.
Kyrie sucks and Nets are gonna pay the price for all their stupid moves in years to come. Sorry Nets fans