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Steve Nash says Kyrie Irving can play ‘extended minutes’ in debut

Steve Nash says Kyrie Irving can play ‘extended minutes’ in debut

Kyrie Irving only just returned to the Nets’ practice facility one week ago, but ahead of his season debut on the road in Indiana, Nets coach Steve Nash says Irving could potentially play “extended minutes” in Wednesday’s game.

Irving has missed the Nets’ first 35 games of the season as the organization ruled him ineligible for not complying with a New York City vaccine mandate, but the team reversed course after a long list of players entered health and safety protocol.

Irving averaged 34.9 minutes per game last season with the Nets, and while Nash said Wednesday that Irving likely won’t hit that mark in his first game back, he’ll be on the floor for a “good chunk” of the game.

via ESPN:

“I don’t think it’s where he can play 38 [minutes]. But I think he can play a big chunk of the game. He’s played a lot — he’s had three or four full-court days with the 5-on-5, so I think he’s capable of playing extended minutes, but not necessarily his customary high 30s.”

Wednesday’s game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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