NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving will not play in the Brooklyn Nets game against Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. He is out for personal reasons, the team said.
The Nets will also be without LaMarcus Aldridge, which is listed as a non-coronavirus related disease. James Harden was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain last week and will not be making the trip to Minnesota. Kevin Durant, who recently returned from a hamstring strain that kept him out for two months, is likely to have a minute restriction on Monday.
Irving has already missed several games for the Nets this season, playing in 38 of Brooklyn’s 53 games. Irving missed four games this season due to injury maintenance. He also missed two weeks in January for personal reasons. During that time away from the team, he broke the competition’s health and safety protocols for the coronavirus, further delaying his return to gaming action. Irving was fined for not following the league’s COVID-19 rules. When he got back to the team, he told reporters he “just needed a break”.
Irving missed three games in late March while attending a family event.
Irving was sent off from Saturday’s 126-101 loss to Los Angeles, after a back and forth game with Lakers guard Dennis Schroder. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, it was the first expulsion for both Schroder and Irving.
Irving scores an average of 27.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and six assists per game.