Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving leaves with sprained ankle in Game 4 of Milwaukee Bucks series

MILWAUKEE – Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving missed the second half of Game 4 of his team’s second-round playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks after spraining his ankle midway through the second quarter.

Irving left the game and headed to the locker room with 5:52 left in the period, leaving Brooklyn without two of its superstars. The Nets announced at halftime that he had a sprained ankle and wouldn’t return to the game.

Irving had just made a basket in the paint when he landed awkwardly. On his way down, Irving’s left leg appeared to hit Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s right leg before the Nets guard landed.

He remained on the floor as play initially continued on the other end of the court.

When the game eventually stopped on a change of possession, Nets team officials checked on Irving before he headed to the locker room.

Nets coach Steve Nash said X-rays taken on Irving’s ankle were negative and that the seven-time All-Star’s status for Game 5 is uncertain at this point.

“We’ll have to see how it goes,” Nash said. “We’ll cross our fingers.”

Irving had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists when he left the game with the Nets trailing 44-40.

The Nets, who are tied 2-2 in the series after losing 107-96 Sunday, already are playing without nine-time All-Star and 2018 MVP James Harden because of right hamstring tightness. Harden hasn’t played since getting hurt in the opening minute of Game 1.