The Nets had hoped to get both of their absent stars back on Sunday. They came halfway, with Kevin Durant facing Oklahoma City, but Kyrie Irving facing the Thunder.
Durant had missed the previous three games because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols after coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19. But he repeatedly tested negative for coronavirus, closed quarantine, and was available against his former club.
Brooklyn wasn’t so lucky with Irving.
Irving has now played three consecutive games for what the team called “personal reasons.” With an average of 27.1 points, his continued absence is a huge loss to the Nets. When asked if the team were satisfied with Irving’s explanation for his absence, Nash was given an opportunity to say yes, but only replied that they were keeping the matter private.
Sources told The Post that the All-Star guard’s absence was linked to Wednesday’s riot at the Capitol by supporters of President Trump.
During Durant’s three-game absence, the Nets pushed the Jazz by 36, drove past the Eastern Conference-leading 76ers and dropped a heartthrob in Memphis the following night at the end of a tough back-to-back.
“We went 2-1. I would say that’s what we’ve accomplished in the three games, and we played pretty good basketball in pieces, ”said Caris LeVert.
“It will be important for all of us to maintain this momentum when those two come back as they are clearly a big part of our team and we need them to play well to do what we want to do. So I think it was good for us to get our confidence, get our looks and things like that because we will definitely need that in the future. “
In the three-game absence of Durant, LeVert scored an average of 29.7 points and seven assists, shooting 50 percent and 47.4 percent from the depth. With Irving out on Sunday, Nash had another chance to keep LeVert in the starting line-up.
“Everyone is struggling with their own problems over the course of this season, and 2-for-3 in this league is pretty solid,” said Joe Harris. “To be an elite team where we want to go, we have to be a little bit better and have a slightly better win ratio. But for now, in terms of small wins, it’s a good step in the right direction.
“We’ve played – at least these last few games – more competitively, I think, only with good energy. … I think we will carry this momentum, and clearly it will help a lot if we get Ky back and Kevin back. “