Kyrie Irving was back in the Nets’ lineup on Friday, and Kevin Durant and Bruce Brown – who were out for a 128–109 loss to the Trail Blazers at Barclays Center – could suit Sunday in Milwaukee. Even Nick Claxton is out of quarantine and is starting to ramp up.
But head coach Steve Nash reiterated that James Harden, still redistributing his right hamstring strain, is nowhere near returning to the court.
“James probably still has a way,” Nash said. “But he’s working and getting better and improving and moving in the right direction, and we’re all positive and optimistic about his long-term outlook. But I think before we look back on the floor, we should just Got a lot of time too. “
Hardik, who missed the game for his career-high 13th consecutive Friday, has not played since licking the court for four minutes in a win over the Knights on 5 April. There are eight games left in the regular season, and Nash would not confirm that Hardik would return before the postman.
“I don’t know that I want to guess an opinion here. I am not sure if any of us act. Let me avoid the question and say: ‘We’ll see,’ “Nash said. “I’m not 100 percent sure if that will happen or not. this is true.
“But I don’t want to guess one side or the other just because I don’t think it serves anyone. Because it is out of our control. We’re really waiting to see how he responds and how he heals and how quickly he gets there and then how intensely he can handle NBA-level work. “
Irving returned with a groin injury, scoring a team-high 28 points while returning after Thursday’s win at Indiana.
Durant was dismissed on Friday with left hamstring management – a case of poor fourth quarter play at the cost of the net on Thursday. When the Nets had 12 points in the fourth in the 23-point third quarter, Nash had to play a Durant 36:21, effectively dropping him out of the picture to face Portland.
The Nets have used Durant in a back-to-back all season, and kept him out of precaution on Friday.
“Kevin came out well. I spoke to him [Friday] Morning, and he wanted to play. So I had to become a grinch and tell him that he is not, “Nash said. “But he sounds great and he’s progressing, and I’m really pleased with that. Obviously, that was terrible [Thursday] Against the night and Toronto. “
Brown sat down with a sore throat on Friday, but is expected to return as the Bucks on Sunday. Claxton has been cleared to begin practice – they were in the health and safety protocol from day 19 of the Nets’ seventh straight game played in Miami.
“We probably need a ramp-up period for that. I’m guessing, but don’t expect to see Nick for at least a week, “Nash said. “it’s healthy. He just needs to get his fitness. “
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