Just when it seemed like the Nets’ two-headed center platoon was starting to roll, they lost one of those heads.
DeAndre Jordan was forced out of Monday’s 135-125 win over New Orleans, suffering a sprained left ankle with 9:26 left and not returning. He limped out of the Nets locker room wearing a brace, while the team was noncommittal about the severity.
“We’ll see,” coach Kenny Atkinson told The Post. “I didn’t see how bad it was. Not great.”
Jordan got tangled up running for position and went down by the basket. He eventually got up and walked off under his own power, but gingerly limped to the bench and didn’t play the rest of the night. He ended up with four points, five rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes of action.
“You never want to see anybody get hurt,” Joe Harris said. “That stuff happens, it’s part of the game. You hope its not as bad as it appears. But we’re fortunate to have a great performance staff and as long as its just a sprain he’ll probably be back before you know it.”
Jarrett Allen had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and has largely split time and starts with Jordan. He’ll see his playing time increase even more if the veteran has to miss any extended time.
“I just saw him sprain his ankle, that’s all I know,” Allen said. “I don’t know the severity. … Hopefully he’s all right and go from there.”
Through the first seven games, Kyrie Irving has recorded 222 points (31.7 ppg), 43 rebounds (6.1 rpg) and 54 assists (7.7 apg). The last player to top those stats through the first seven games of a season was Oscar Robertson with the 1965-66 Cincinnati Royals.
That’s also the most points through the first seven games of a season in Nets history.
“I’m happy to go down as another Irving in Nets history,” Irving quipped, referring to Hall of Famer Julius Erving. “That’s a great thing.
“I’m going to continue to say it, but it’s a dream come true since I was in fourth grade. I left an NBA Finals game and went home and wrote it on sheetrock. And now to be going down in Nets history, I’m always appreciative, but obviously doing it at home it’s a different feeling. But obviously I know the important goals are ahead.”