Irving may have violated protocols
The Nets and the NBA are looking into Kyrie Irving’s actions after a video showed the point guard at an indoor family gathering while not wearing a mask.
Nets GM Sean Marks said Tuesday that the team is reviewing the circumstances with both Irving and the league to determine his compliance with health and safety protocols.
Marks added in a statement that a date for Irving’s return to the team has yet to be finalized.
Asked if he was confident Irving would be back with the Nets this season, coach Steve Nash responded: “Sure.” But he offered no clarity about when that might happen.
“Like I said, right now I’ve got to focus on coaching this team and getting the best out of them,” Nash said. “So I can’t make any predictions, prognostications about things that are outside this building.”
The video on social media appears to be a family celebration, though it’s unclear how many people are in attendance.
Irving missed his fourth straight game for what the Nets are calling personal reasons Tuesday night against Denver. He will likely face a quarantine period upon his return and could be fined if the NBA determines he violated the rules in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Rockets’ James Harden was fined $50,000 last month when he attended an indoor private party, violating protocols that prohibit attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments.
Lakers F Markieff Morris was fined $35,000 by the NBA for his “on-court altercation” with Rockets C DeMarcus Cousins following Morris’ flagrant 1 foul on Jae’Sean Tate during Sunday’s game. Cousins was fined $10,000. Morris and Cousins were called for double technical fouls with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter of the Rockets’ 120-102 loss to Lakers for getting into a shoving match after Morris’ foul on Tate.
Colleges: West Virginia’s next three men’s basketball games were postponed due to COVID-19 issues, including the 13th-ranked Mountaineers showdown against No. 2 Baylor. The Big 12 also pushed back West Virginia’s contests against TCU (Saturday) and Oklahoma State (Jan. 19). ... Kentucky baseball player Ben Jordan, who walked on to the basketball team last season when it had a need, died. He was 22. No cause of death was given.
NFL: The Seahawks parted ways with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer after three seasons. ... The Raiders hired former Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley as their new defensive coordinator. Bradley, 54, spent the last four seasons as the Chargers defensive coordinator. ... Colts LT Anthony Castonzo retired after 10 seasons. Castonzo, 36, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, started all 144 games he played in his career. The Colts were 4-13 in the games he missed.
NHL: The Wild have signed left winger Marcus Foligno to a three-year, $9.3 million contract extension through the 2023-24 season. Foligno, 29, had career hights last season with 25 points and a plus-8 rating. ... The Blackhawks signed coach Jeremy Colliton to a two-year extension that runs through the 2022-23 season. Colliton, 35, was 62-58 in his first two seasons.