All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to return to the Nets for Wednesday night’s game in Cleveland, coach Steve Nash told reporters.
Irving has missed time due to personal reasons, as well as for violating the league’s health and safety protocols. Since Irving’s last game, Jan. 8, the Nets have acquired James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Rockets.
The Nets have won two straight since the deal, with Harden scoring 30-plus points in each. That included Monday’s close one against the Bucks, where Kevin Durant hit the game-winning shot.
Irving, Harden and Durant have the Nets positioned as the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference.
Irving was drafted by the Cavaliers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. He was a member of the Cavs’ 2016 championship team alongside LeBron James, with Irving making the biggest 3-pointer in franchise history in Game 7 of the Finals vs. the Warriors.
He demanded a trade from the Cavs a little more than a year later, after a loss to Durant and the Warriors in the 2017 Finals.
The Cavs starting backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland is also supposed to be ready to go.
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