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UPDATE: Jan. 18, 1:31 p.m. — Irving will not return to the lineup on MLK Day against the Bucks as he ramps up his conditioning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday afternoon.
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving continues to ramp up his conditioning and will miss tonight's game against Milwaukee, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 18, 2021
UPDATE: Jan. 17, 4:58 p.m. — Irving is being listed as questionable to play in Monday’s game vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Irving has missed the past five games after violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The Nets acquired James Harden while Irving was sidelined. The Beard made his team debut on Saturday with a triple-double.
Brooklyn Nets PG Kyrie Irving remains out Saturday vs. the Orlando Magic. Irving was fined on Friday for violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols last week. He had been away from the team due to personal reasons, but really left the team to attend a private indoor birthday gathering with his family. After the NBA found out, Irving was forced to quarantine for a five-day period and needed to submit negative multiple Covid-19 tests in order to get back on the court. That hasn’t happened, though Irving can return to team activities on Saturday.
Sources: Kyrie Irving will be out due to health and safety protocols for Saturday’s game against Orlando.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) January 15, 2021
While Irving has expressed a desire to return, sources say, the extensive time away from the court requires a period of ramping up basketball activities.
The Nets roster will have a different look on Saturday. It’s unclear if James Harden will make his team debut. If Harden can’t play, Kevin Durant will be joined again in the starting lineup by Bruce Brown, Joe Harris, Jeff Green and DeAndre Jordan. That’s the same lineup that made swift work of the New York Knicks earlier in the week. Once Harden enters the lineup, we should see Brown head back to the bench. Once Irving is back, the Nets lineup should look something like Irving, Harden, Harris, Durant and Jordan.