Kyrie Irving to stay out for Nets, could debut alongside James Harden, Kevin Durant against Cavs, report says

Brooklyn Nets fans will have to wait a little longer to see their new star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving in action. Irving was ruled out for Brooklyn’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night due to NBA health and safety protocols, marking the seventh consecutive contest he will miss. Irving took time away from the team for personal reasons, then was forced to undergo mandatory quarantine after the league determined he violated health and safety protocols by attending a party birthday of the family in a private place without wearing a mask.

Irving has cleared the quarantine period, but is still stepping up his conditioning because apparently he and the Nets don’t think he’s quite ready for action. His return to action is now expected against the Cleveland Cavaliers later in the week, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The Nets face the Cavs on Wednesday and again on Friday.

Since the quarantine, Irving has been intensification of basketball activities after his long absence from the court, and according to Nets head coach Steve Nash, the hope is to bring the star guard back into the fold as soon as possible.

“I hope we’re close. I can’t really give you a firm update on this,” Nash told reporters on Saturday, via the New York Post. We have to assess this as we go. We want to make sure he crawls accordingly so that he is not vulnerable to unnecessary injury and to protect him as best we can. But I hope it will be a short time. That remains to be determined, however. “

When it comes to Irving finding a rhythm on the floor after a decently long layoff, Nash isn’t concerned.

“I’m not worried about Kyrie losing pace,” Nash said. “He’s a brilliant basketball player. When he comes back I’m sure it won’t take long for him to be himself.”

When Irving was on the court for Brooklyn this season, he looked great alongside Durant. He averages 27.1 points, 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds while shooting a career-high 42.6 percent from 3 points on 8.7 attempts per game. When Irving makes his highly anticipated comeback, it will give everyone in the league a first glimpse of what this Brooklyn team can really do as a powerful new team in the East.