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Kyrie Irving to Return to Nets Tomorrow Night

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is set to make his season debut tomorrow night when the Nets visit the Indiana Pacers. It marks the first time Irving has played in…

Kyrie Irving

BOSTON, MA – MAY 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1, Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 30, 2021 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is set to make his season debut tomorrow night when the Nets visit the Indiana Pacers.

It marks the first time Irving has played in a game since Game 7 of last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks that Irving has played in an NBA game.

Irving, who is still not vaccinated against Coronavirus and its variants, was previously kept away from the team because they did not want to have a part-time player, who was unvaccinated and could only play in select road games.

However due to the Nets own outbreak of the Omicron variant sent 10 players, including James Harden and Kevin Durant, into COVID protocols.

The Nets could surely use Irving back on the floor. Brooklyn has lost three straight, including a 118-104 loss at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies.

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

Due to COVID protocols, Irving can not play in home games at the Barclays Center, or when the Nets are the visiting team at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. He also can't play in games in Toronto due to vaccine and mask requirements.

The Nets have 25 road games remaining on schedule; three of  them Irving cannot play in unless he gets vaccinated.

At 23-12, the Nets trail the surging Chicago Bulls (25-10) by two games in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee (25-14) is right on the Nets heels for the number 2 seed in the conference.

Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.