The Nets will be without star forward Kevin Durant and point guard Kyrie Irving for Monday’s home game against the Grizzlies, according to multiple reports.
Durant and Irving will sit out for the purpose of rest, though the NBA injury report officially lists Durant out for “injury recovery” reasons. Monday marks the Nets’ first back-to-back of the season. After winning their first two games by at least 25 points apiece, they dropped a close one — with Durant and Irving — to the Hornets on Sunday.
As relayed by ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Durant said he was hopeful of playing in back-to-backs this season.
“I definitely want to be able to play back-to-backs,” Durant said after Sunday’s game. “Get through ’em healthy and play my normal minutes, so we’ll see.”
Clearly, the Nets have other ideas, with this being a marathon 72 regular-season games and the playoffs, in which the Nets are hoping to go deep.
More out of Brooklyn
- First-time coach Steve Nash discussed the Nets’ back-to-back plans for Durant and others. “I almost don’t want to have a preconceived plan. We want to protect Kevin coming off 18 months of recovery. We want to be careful with different people, different vulnerabilities and try to make as smart long-term decisions as we can.”
- In case you missed, the Nets received some dire news regarding Spencer Dinwiddie, who is out for the season following an ACL tear. Alex Schiffer of The Athletic examines how the Nets may try to go about replacing the talented guard. Dinwiddie is due to undergo surgery on the knee next week.
- Following Sunday’s loss, big man Jarrett Allen told reporters the Nets will have to get used to being everyone else’s championship. “Being in the position we are now with KD and Kyrie back and we’re a full team, we’re definitely going to have the target on the back every single game. We’re definitely going to get every single team’s 100 percent. So we have to come out there ready every single time.”
