Kyrie Irving and James Harden Injury Update Favors Bucks in Game 5 UPDATE: Irving Out

UPDATE: Kyrie Irving will miss Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks with a right ankle sprain, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. Irving went down in Game 4 on Sunday and did not return. What follows is the initial report from the release of the Bucks-Brooklyn Nets Game 5 odds.

The bad news keeps coming for the Brooklyn Nets. 

While Brooklyn may still be favored to win the NBA Finals on WynnBET, they are underdogs now to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Milwaukee is now a -135 favorite to take the series, and the Bucks are already 2.5-point favorites in Game 5. That line may move even more now that both Kyrie Irving and James Harden are looking doubtful to play in Tuesday’s matchup.

Brooklyn was shooting the ball at an insane clip through the first two games of the series and looked virtually unbeatable. However, an offensive struggle in Game 3 followed by Irving’s ankle injury, has cast some serious doubt over the Nets’ ability to win the East. 

Irving’s injury did not look good, and he was spotted on crutches leaving the arena on Sunday.

Harden, who injured his hamstring just 43 seconds into Game 1, might have a chance to return, but the Nets have to weigh the risk of rushing him back. For now, it appears everything will fall on the back of Kevin Durant to carry the team as it tries to stay afloat until one of the other stars can return. 

Milwaukee, who looked completely out of the series after a blowout loss in Game 2, has to feel good about its chances. 

The Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have put together back-to-back solid defensive performances where they held the best offense in the NBA to under 100 points. 

Unless Irving or Harden is able to return, the Bucks are looking like the team to win this series.