Kyrie Irving ruled out vs. Mavs for shoulder injury recovery

Kyrie Irving will not take the court on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Nets star Kyrie Irving ruled out against Mavericks for 'shoulder injury recovery'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 2/27/21

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will not take the court on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Irving is out for right shoulder injury recovery. The 28-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder last year.

Nets‘ Kyrie Irving is listed out tonight vs. Mavericks due to right shoulder injury recovery.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 27, 2021

It will be difficult for head coach Steve Nash to replace Irving on Saturday. In the 10 games he has missed this season, the Nets are 6-4. And, although he's ceded primary ball-handling duties to James Harden, the seven-time All-Star is averaging 27.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 52.1% from the field and 39.8% from deep.

The Nets will also be without Kevin Durant against the Mavericks. The 32-year-old is out through the All-Star break with a left hamstring strain.

Even with Durant sidelined, Brooklyn is on an eight-game winning streak and sits second in the Eastern Conference with a 22-12 record. Still, it won't be easy for the team to take down Luka Doncic and the Mavs on Saturday night to keep that streak alive.

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