Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving enter protocol; NHL games postponed

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the team announced Saturday.

Durant joins forwards Paul Millsap, LaMarcus Aldridge, James Johnson and DeAndre’ Bembry and guards James Harden, Bruce Brown and Jevon Carter in the protocols.

Later Saturday, the team said that All-Star guard Kyrie Irving has entered the protocols, making him the ninth Nets player on the COVID list.

The Nets are scheduled to play the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Durant is averaging a league-leading 29.7 points to go along with 7.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists for Brooklyn, who have won four in a row and have the Eastern Conference’s best record at 21-8.

To make up for the roster shortage, the team signed free agent forward James Ennis III and free agent guard Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts.

SPORTS AND COVID-19: Surge leads to schedule changes in NFL, NBA, NHL, college basketball: What we know

OPINION: Nets send wrong message by allowing Kyrie Irving to participate in road games

STAY UP TO DATE: Subscribe to our Sports newsletter now!

The team announced Friday that they would bring back Irving as a part-time player on the road to address the team’s COVID-19 issues. Irving, who is not vaccinated, has not played all season.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley was also placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Saturday and will not play in tonight’s game against Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced.

More NHL games are postponed

The NHL said Saturday that it is postponing Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators games through the Christmas break because of outbreaks on those teams.

In addition, the Toronto Maple Leafs-Vancouver Canucks game on Saturday and Sunday’s Maple Leafs-Seattle Kraken and Arizona Coyotes-Canucks games are postponed.

Stars Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are among Bruins players in protocol. Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens was…