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The Nets will be without guards Kyrie Irving and Landry Shamet for at least the upcoming three-game road trip. With Kevin Durant already out and James Harden now listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game in Portland, the Nets Big Three could be down to a Big None.

Irving won’t accompany the Nets to Portland, Utah and Detroit, the team announced Monday afternoon. The Nets cited only a “family matter,” and an Irving spokesperson did not immediately return inquiries.

In the case of Shamet, his absence was expected after he sprained his right ankle in Sunday night’s victory over Washington at Barclays Center. Nets coach Steve Nash had said afterward that Shamet would be evaluated Monday and get imaging, with an MRI coming up “clean” according to ESPN.

With no break and presumably no tissue damage, Shamet could avoid surgery and return after just therapy. Still, there has been no timeline given by the Nets, who didn’t practice Monday and are traveling to Oregon.

In the case of Irving, this won’t be his first extended absence. He missed seven consecutive games in January on leave for what the Nets deemed “personal” issues, followed by a COVID-19 contact tracing quarantine that resulted from him going maskless at his sister’s birthday party. Incidentally, Irving turns 29 on Tuesday.

Since several of those January games were missed because of the quarantine, he was fined and docked game checks. This is a different situation, with his absence appearing to be authorized by the Nets.


  Kyrie Irving will miss more Nets time this week. Getty Images Kyrie Irving will miss more Nets time this week. Getty Images

Irving is averaging 28.1 points and 5.7 assists after a team-high 28-point outing on Sunday. His four points and two assists sparked a game-clinching 10-4 run over the final three minutes. With Irving joining Durant on the injured list, the Big Three is down to Harden as the last man standing. And that’s if the Nets are lucky.

Harden is questionable versus the Blazers due to neck soreness. He took a hit late in the first half of Sunday’s win and was down for several minutes being worked on by Nets medical personnel, but played the second half and downplayed the injury.

“I got hit. That’s part of basketball,” Harden shrugged. “I got hit in the jaw. My neck kind of twitched. I’ll be all right. It’s nothing. Get some treatment on it, get some rest and be ready to go the next game.”

The last two times Harden has played without either Durant or Irving, he led huge come-from-behind victories at Phoenix on Feb. 16 and at Indiana on Wednesday.

Durant has missed 15 straight games with a hamstring injury. He hasn’t played since Feb. 13 at Golden State, and could be out for at least another week or two.

Forward Alize Johnson, officially signed Monday on a 10-day deal, isn’t yet with the team.

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