Nets' Kyrie Irving out for Preseason Game vs Lakers with Facial Contusion Injury

The Brooklyn Nets announced that guard Kyrie Irving will not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Shenzhen, China, because he has a facial contusion.

Irving suffered the injury Thursday against the Lakers in Shanghai, China, when he took a shoulder to the face from Lakers guard Rajon Rondo:

Kyrie exited the game after just one minute and did not return. He was wearing a protective mask after suffering a facial fracture during a pickup game prior to training camp.

After spending the past two seasons with the Boston Celtics, Irving signed a four-year, $141 million contract with the Nets in July. On that same day, Brooklyn inked two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant.

Since Durant could miss the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered during the 2019 Finals while with the Golden State Warriors, Irving will be the go-to guy for head coach Kenny Atkinson this season.

Irving is a six-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion dating back to his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he boasts career averages of 22.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Guard Caris LeVert is questionable for Saturday's game after also leaving Thursday's contest early after getting poked in the eye.

If both Irving and LeVert are out, guard Spencer Dinwiddie figures to pick up the slack on the heels of leading the Nets in scoring with 20 points Thursday.