Brooklyn Nets’ guards Kyrie Irving and James Harden will miss the pivotal Game 5 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Irving was ruled out of the game at Barclays Center after an MRI confirmed that he suffered a right ankle sprain in Sunday’s Game 4. Harden, who strained his hamstring in Game 1 of the second-round series, also remains out.
Nets head coach Steve Nash told reporters he has “no idea” whether Irving will return in the best-of-seven series against the Bucks, which is tied at two games apiece after two straight Milwaukee wins. He said on Monday: “I have to wait and see how it progresses, I think. And then the experts would have to wait and see how it progresses and give you a clearer picture on what the window would be for his return.”
The 29-year-old Irving sustained his ankle injury halfway through the second quarter of Sunday’s game when he landed awkwardly on Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot, and remained on the floor for several minutes as Nash and team trainers attended to him. Harden, who has been out since June 5, has done some on-court work since his injury, but he still needed to complete multiple high intensity workouts without any setbacks before being cleared to compete.
Game 5 of the series is set for tonight at 8:30 p.m. EDT in Brooklyn.
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