The Nets didn’t unveil their Big 3 Saturday against Orlando, with Kyrie Irving out of his league-mandated quarantine but still ramping back up to playing an NBA game.
After taking a personal leave for as-yet undisclosed reasons, Irving went maskless at a party at an indoor event space, and ended up having to quarantine for five days. But even after being cleared to return to basketball activities on Saturday, nearly two weeks away from the game will require time to get back to speed.
“Hopefully, we’re close. I can’t really give you a firm update on that. We have to assess that as we go,” head coach Steve Nash said before facing the Magic. “We do want to make sure he ramps accordingly so that he’s not susceptible to unnecessary injury and protect him the best we can. But hopefully, it will be a short period of time. That is to be determined, though.”
Harden didn’t have a single practice with the Nets, but walked right into the starting lineup Saturday and posted a triple-double. But Irving hasn’t played since Jan. 5 rout of Utah; and with the condensed five-month schedule, it’s been far longer since he had a real practice.
Brooklyn doesn’t have an official practice Sunday, but they’ll try to get Irving some work.
Kyrie Irving AP“Well, we don’t practice. They have to be off their legs, so we try to teach and script and rehearse and watch film. But he’s getting his work in individually and maybe (Sunday) he can do some things with the Stay Ready group,” Nash said of Irving. “We just want to make sure he has a few days in his legs before he gets thrown back in the fire.”
The Nets host Milwaukee Monday on Martin Luther King Day.
In the updated four-way Harden deal, the Nets sent the Pacers $2.6 million, according to ESPN. That will count against the $5.6 million they can send out (and get back) in trades this season.
Nic Claxton has been sidelined all season with right knee tendinopathy. And the second-year big man is going to be out for awhile longer, with Nash admitting Claxton isn’t expected back this month.
“I think Nic is probably closer to the midseason break than he is to now,” Nash said. “Sometime in February for sure. But no setbacks, just working through it.”
The midseason break starts March 4.
Reggie Perry switched numbers from No. 14 to No. 0.
