Durant, Irving make 9 Nets in health and safety protocols

NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving’s return to the Brooklyn Nets is starting with a trip to the NBA’S health and safety protocols — and Kevin Durant is joining him.

The Nets’ outbreak worsened Saturday when they announced both stars were in protocols, giving them a leaguehigh nine players on the injury report for that reason.

Durant already was scheduled for a night off to rest Saturday against Orlando on the opening night of a back-toback. Instead, he became ineligible to play anyway when he was added to the injury report. The Nets decided Friday that Irving would rejoin them for practices and road games, though he remains ineligible to play at home.

James Harden, Lamarcus Aldridge, Deandre’ Bembry, Bruce Brown, Jevon Carter, Paul Millsap and James Johnson all are listed as out because of the protocols.

Needing to have eight players to start a game, the Nets scrapped their plan to rest Patty Mills and said he would be available. They also signed swingman James Ennis III and guard Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts.

— Wire reports