After dropping the first two games, the Milwaukee Bucks evened the series 2-2 with a physical 107-96 win over the depleted Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The Nets’ Kyrie Irving will undergo further tests Monday after initial X-rays on his right ankle came back negative, coach Steve Nash said after the game.
The guard was ruled out at halftime after spraining his right ankle in the second quarter of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Irving was hurt after landing on the foot of Antetokounmpo after jumping for a layup.
He turned his ankle and stayed down as play went to the other end. After a few minutes, he limped back to the locker room.
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the Bucks’ offense, with 34 points and 12 rebounds, while Khris Middleton (19 points) and Jrue Holiday (14) had eight and nine assists, respectively.
Irving had 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting and five rebounds before leaving. Forward Kevin Durant led the Nets with 28 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The Nets starters were substituted out of the game with 4:28 left in the game as they trailed by 15 points. The Bucks starters were pulled shortly afterward.
Brooklyn has battled absences throughout the season. Irving missed time in January for personal reasons and then had to leave a May game against the Bulls after taking an elbow to the face. Fellow big three members Kevin Durant and James Harden missed time due to hamstring strains, and Durant also missed games with a thigh injury.
The Nets are still without Harden, who injured his hamstring in the first minute of Game 1 and hasn’t played since. Forward Jeff Green returned to the lineup Sunday for the first time since injuring his foot May 25 against the Celtics, posting eight points and five rebounds in 27 minutes.
Following the loss, Nash said he won’t rush Harden back if Irving is not able to play in Game 5 or if Harden pushes to play, adding that the injuries are “independent” of each other.
Game 5 is Tuesday back in Brooklyn, with Game 6 set for Thursday in Milwaukee. Game 7, if necessary, will be Saturday in Brooklyn.
This story will be updated.
