NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving will not play in the Brooklyn Nets against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. He left for personal reasons, the team announced.
Nets will also be without LaMarcus Aldridge, who is listed as out for a disease that is not related to coronavirus. James Harden was diagnosed with a straight hamstring strain last week and will not make the trip to Minnesota. Kevin Durant, who recently returned from a hamstring stalk that kept him out for two months, is likely to stay on Monday with a minute restriction.
Irving has already missed several games for the Nets this season, playing in 38 of the 53 games in Brooklyn. Irving has missed four match-fixing games this season. He also missed two weeks in January for personal reasons. During that time, away from the team, he violated the health and safety protocols of the coronavirus in the league, which further delayed his return to action. Irving was fined for not following the league’s COVID-19 rules. When he returned to the team, he told reporters that “he just needed a break.”
Irving missed three games in late March while dealing with a family issue.
Irving was sent off in Saturday’s 126-101 loss to Los Angeles after a back-and-forth with Lakers goalie Dennis Schroder. It was the first career ejection for both Schroder and Irving, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Irving has an average of 27.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and six assists per game.