PHOENIX SUNS
Nets PG Kyrie Irving out Tuesday vs. Suns due to back tightness
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, left, keeps the ball out of the reach of Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The Nets won 136-125. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The Brooklyn Nets will be without two of their main players when they take on the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
Two days after forward Kevin Durant was ruled out with a mild hamstring strain, it was announced point guard Kyrie Irving will not suit up against the Suns due to lower back tightness.
Through 20 games this season, Irving’s averaging 28.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists per outing. He’s shooting 53.4% from the field and 44.2% from 3-point land.
With both Irving and Durant sidelined, that leaves guard James Harden to pick up the slack against a top-ranked defensive team in the Suns.
In the 15 games Harden has played as a Net this season, the former Sun Devil is averaging 23.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He’s made 48.9% of his shots and 40.2% from long range.
The Nets, who are looking to extend their winning streak to four games, could up the usage of Landry Shamet, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jeff Green in place of Irving and Durant.
The Suns look for their seventh-straight win when they face off against the Nets at 8:30 p.m. Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
