Kyrie Irving was taken to the hospital Tuesday after taking an elbow to the face during a pickup game at the Nets practice facility in Brooklyn.

“It literally happened 30 minutes [ago] so I wouldn’t even want to speculate at all, but I think it’s just a case of doing our due diligence,” GM Sean Marks said at an afternoon news conference. “Kyrie goes and gets checked out like he would anywhere else and we always send staff with him, and it’s a great opportunity for [head coach] Kenny [Atkinson], too.”

Atkinson accompanied Irving to the hospital, and the 27-year-old’s status is unclear. Marks downplayed the severity of the injury, though it wouldn’t be the first time Irving’s face has been the subject of an injury.

In November 2017, Irving suffered a broken bone in his face while with the Celtics.

It’s not exactly the start the Nets envisioned for their new superstar point guard, who signed a four-year, $141 million contract this summer.

Irving teamed up in Brooklyn with buddy Kevin Durant, whom Marks said he doesn’t expect to see the floor this season. Durant is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in the NBA Finals last spring.

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