NBA: Nets vs Lakers – injury news

The Brooklyn Nets play host to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday evening - both go into the game missing key players. The Nets will be without Kevin Durant, who faces between four and six weeks out after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the 120-105 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on 15 January. Steve Nash’s team are 2-2 since losing Durant and fell to a 136-125 loss to Minnesota at the weekend, that defeat came on the back of two consecutive wins against the Washington Wizards and the San Antonio Spurs.

Irving ineligible at home

Apart from Durant, the Nets will also be unable to count on Joe Harris, who remains out nursing an ankle injury and Nic Claxton who has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. Kyrie Irving, who has not been vaccinated, cannot play in the Net’s home games at Barclays Center due to New York City's vaccine mandate which states residents must have received at least one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine to enter indoor sports venues.

The Nets’ troubles seem mild compared to how the Lakers have been faring. Frank Vogel’s team are reaching the end of a six-game road trip having lost five out of their last seven games. Defensively, they have looked weak since Anthony Davis suffered a MCL sprain to his left knee just before Christmas. The Lakers are 7-10 since losing Davis at Minnesota back on 17 December. Davis has returned to on-court activity and is expected to return soon – but maybe not soon enough to face the Nets. He is the only player on the Lakers casualty list going into tonight’s matchup although his status has been upgraded from questionable to probable.

The game tips off at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday 25 January 2021 at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT.