NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving will not play in the Brooklyn Nets‘ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. He is out due to personal reasons, the team announced.
The Nets will also be without LaMarcus Aldridge, who is listed as out for a non-coronavirus-related illness. James Harden was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain last week and will not make the trip to Minnesota. Kevin Durant, who recently returned from a hamstring strain that kept him out for two months, will likely remain on a minutes restriction on Monday.
Irving has already missed several games for the Nets this season, playing in 38 of Brooklyn’s 53 games. Irving has missed four games for injury maintenance this season. He also missed two weeks in January for personal reasons. During that time away from the team, he broke the league’s coronavirus health and safety protocols, which further delayed his return to game action. Irving was fined for not following the league’s COVID-19 rules. When he did come back to the team, he told reporters that he “just needed a break.”
Irving missed three games in late March while attending to a family matter.
Irving was ejected from Saturday’s 126-101 loss to Los Angeles, following a back-and-forth with Lakers guard Dennis Schroder. It was the first career ejection for both Schroder and Irving, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.
Irving is averaging 27.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and six assists per game.