SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 10: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during a preseason game as part of 2019 NBA Global Games China on October 10, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving suffered a facial fracture last month and reaggravated it in Thursday’s preseason game against the Lakers.
After roughly a minute and 57 seconds into Thursday’s NBA preseason action, Kyrie Irving was signaling to the bench that he was coming out as the Brooklyn charcoal home jersey was pulled over his face.
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Irving’s face caught Rajon Rondo‘s pointed left shoulder in the midst of the Los Angeles Lakers guard creating space on the wing. Although Irving had a face mask on, he apparently reaggravated a left side facial fracture he sustained in a similar incident during a pickup game at the end of September.
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Irving swiftly removed his mask after the hit and sat visibly in pain the remainder of the game. He did not return and the Nets went on to take the Lakers in a thriller, by preseason standards –114-110.
As doubt and uncertainty continue to loom around the NBA and its Chinese partners, Thursday’s game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai was the first in a pair of Chinese games for the Nets and Lakers. Saturday’s game is still set to be played but there is now concern surrounding if the Nets marquee star, Irving, will be ready for the start of the season in just under two weeks. There’s no word on if he will participate in Saturday’s preseason action but fans shouldn’t be shocked if Irving is shut down at least until the regular season starts.