Brooklyn Nets 'hopeful' Kyrie Irving can make NBA season debut Wednesday at Indiana Pacers

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash said the organization is "hopeful'' that Kyrie Irving could make his season debut Wednesday at theIndiana Pacers, "but no determinations have been made yet.''

Irving has not been vaccinated against the coronavirus, which makes him ineligible to play home games under a New York City vaccine mandate. The Nets initially rejected the prospect of having Irving play only road games before reconsidering when a COVID-19 outbreak depleted the team's roster.

Asked what would be the determining factors in Irving's return, Nash said, "how he feels and whether we determine it is safe for him to come back.''

Nets general manager Sean Marks said on Dec. 18 that the team was open to bringing Irving back as a part-time player. At the time, Brooklyn had 10 players in the COVID-19 protocol.

The Nets have been worried about how much they've used the other two stars on their roster, Kevin Durant and James Harden. Entering Monday night's game against Memphis, Durant was averaging 37.1 minutes per game and Harden was averaging 36.7 minutes.

Brooklyn has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 23-12 but it's lost three straight, including118-104 to the Grizzlies on Monday night.

Harden said Irving's return won't solve Brooklyn's recent woes.

"It definitely gives us a spark," he said. "We can't wait to have him back, but we have to do things that are necessary like I keep saying."

In addition to home games at Barclays Center, Irving cannot play at the New York Knicks' arena, Madison Square Garden, or at Golden State or Toronto because of vaccine mandates in those teams' home cities.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.