For the second time this season, Kyrie Irving is a late scratch for the Nets, leaving Brooklyn without its two superstars as Kevin Durant continues to serve out his quarantine in accordance with the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
However, unlike the Nets’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies where he sat out to rest his surgically repaired right shoulder on the second day of a back-to-back, Irving is sitting out of Thursday night’s game at Barclays Center due to personal matters, according to the team.
Steve Nash did not know Irving would be unavailable until minutes before his 5:45 pregame press conference with the media on Thursday.
Tyler Johnson was also a late scratch for the Nets on Thursday. Brooklyn says the guard will be unavailable due to health and safety protocols.
Along with Johnson, Irving and Durant, the Nets are without Nicolas Claxton (right knee tendinopathy) and Reggie Perry (groin), along with Spencer Dinwiddie after the guard underwent successful ACL surgery.
Caris LeVert will likely start in Irving’s place against the Sixers, making Chris Chiozza the likely first ball-handler off the bench Thursday.
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