What’s next for the Nets
Schiffer: Brooklyn has won two straight and will be without Kevin Durant and Irving on Friday in Memphis but could get one or both back for Sunday’s game against the Thunder. Nash said before Thursday’s game that he was told Durant could return on Sunday if he continues to test negative for COVID-19, which would end Durant’s quarantine two days earlier than expected. So it isn’t all bad for the Nets right now. Their stars appear to be returning sooner rather than later.
The Nash-Irving dynamic
Joe Vardon, senior NBA writer: Nash arrived at Barclays Thursday afternoon and learned Irving wasn’t going to play. Nash said he reached out to Irving and heard nothing, and therefore did not know why Irving was missing. And then after the game, Nash said he still hadn’t talked to Irving and therefore didn’t know anything, beyond it being “personal reasons.” Something is lost in semantics here. The Nets, who are generally aware of why Kyrie isn’t there, had to tell Nash, at some point. But the news never traveled from player to coach.
(Photo: Andy Marlin / USA Today)