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Nets' Kyrie Irving to miss Game 7 vs. Bucks with ankle injury

When the Brooklyn Nets try to reach the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night, they’ll have to do so once again without Kyrie Irving.

Nets coach Steve Nash said Friday that Irving will miss their Game 7 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an ankle injury he sustained earlier in the series, according to ESPN’s Malika Andrews. Irving, Nash said, still has some "miles to make up."

Irving first injured his ankle in Game 4 in Milwaukee, after he landed awkwardly on Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo's foot and had to leave the game early. Initial X-rays came back negative, but he has not played since.

Irving has averaged 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists so far in the postseason for the Nets. The 29-year-old put up 26.9 points and six assists in the regular season, his second in Brooklyn.

The Bucks tied the series up 3-3 with their 104-89 win on Thursday, which set up Game 7 (Nets -1 per BetMGM) at the Barclays Center. Should the Nets advance to the conference finals — where they’d take on either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Atlanta Hawks — Nash said he expects Irving to be available, as his injury isn’t a “season-threatening situation.”

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving left Game 4 of the series early after tweaking his ankle, and hasn't played since. (AP/Adam Hunger) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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