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Even though Kyrie Irving's suspension could end after Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, there's reportedly still uncertainty over when he will return to the court.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, there is "skepticism Irving will be in position to return" for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers or Tuesday's matchup with the Sacramento Kings.

Nets players Royce O'Neale and Nic Claxton told reporters Friday they have been in contact with Irving but could not say if he will rejoin the team this weekend:

Nets governor Joe Tsai tweeted he and his wife, Clara, met with Irving on Thursday and wrote it was clear the seven-time All-Star "does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group."

In an interview with Sopan Deb of the New York Times, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he met with Irving at the league offices earlier this week.

"We had a direct and candid conversation," Silver said. "He’s someone I’ve known for a decade, and I’ve never heard an antisemitic word from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group."

Silver did tell Deb in a follow-up conversation over the phone that whether Irving is antisemitic is "not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content."

The Nets announced on Nov. 3 that Irving was being suspended for at least five games. The decision came after he tweeted a link to a documentary that contains antisemitic tropes.

In the wake of criticism about his post on Twitter, Irving did not apologize and refused to give a definitive answer when asked if he had antisemitic beliefs.

After the Nets announced Irving's suspension, he issued an apology on Instagram:

"While doing research on YHWH, I posted a Documentary that contained some false anti-Semitic statements, narratives, and language that were untrue and offensive to the Jewish Race/Religion, and I take full accountability and responsibly for my actions. I am grateful to have a big platform to share knowledge and I want to move forward by having an open dialogue to learn more and grow from this.

"To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize. I initially reacted out of emotion to being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were hurt from the hateful remarks made in the Documentary. I want to clarify any confusion on where I stand fighting against Anti- semticism by apologizing for posting the documentary without context and a factual explanation outlining the specific beliefs in the Documentary I agreed with and disagreed with. I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate. I am learning from this unfortunate event and hope we can find understanding between us all. I am no different than any other human being. I am a seeker of truth and knowledge, and I know who I Am."

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Nets have given Irving a list of six requirements he must meet before he will be allowed to return:

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who is also vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe the union is expected to appeal Irving's suspension.

"The terms, etc., that went into his return. The terms for his return, they seem like a lot, and a lot of the players expressed discomfort with the terms," Brown said.

On Thursday, LeBron James tweeted he thinks what's being asked of Irving to get back on the court is "excessive" and "he should be able to play" after apologizing.

Irving is in the final season of his contract with the Nets. The 30-year-old started each of the team's first eight games prior to being suspended.

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly "called numerous teams about Grayson Allen’s trade prospects," according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Milwaukee has shown interest in Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder, potentially setting up a swap between the two teams, but Phoenix reportedly still has its eyes on other impact players.

Allen has started 10 games for the 10-1 Bucks, averaging 10.8 points and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range.

With the Bucks currently ranking just 18th in three-point shooting at 35.2 percent, Allen's ability to stretch the floor is extremely valuable.

The former Duke star set a career high with 11.1 points per game last season in his first year with Milwaukee, starting 61 of the 66 games he played. The 6'4" guard shot 40.9 percent from beyond the arc last year and has a 39.5 percent career mark from three.

Even if the Bucks want to move on from Allen, it's clear he could have value for a contender thanks to his outside scoring ability.

After going to the playoffs with the Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz during his short career, Allen is also battle-tested in big games.

Phoenix could use the scoring depth with Crowder not with the team and Cameron Johnson out with a knee injury. He would likely join Landry Shamet and Josh Okogie off the bench behind Chris Paul and Devin Booker in the backcourt.

Meanwhile, there are no shortage of teams that could use an added shooter as Milwaukee looks for upgrades in other areas.

The Philadelphia 76ers trailed by as many as 20 points before losing 104-95 to the host Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

This was an ugly game for the 76ers in many respects.

Philadelphia committed 17 turnovers, with Joel Embiid having seven of them.

Embiid had a good game on paper otherwise (26 points, 13 rebounds, plus-10), but opposing center Clint Capela outclassed him on this evening with 18 points and 20 rebounds in just 26 minutes (plus-24 rating). Backup big man Onyeka Okongwu (10 points, 11 boards) also helped the Hawks out-rebound the 76ers 54-45.

Elsewhere, 76ers forward Tobias Harris and guard Tyrese Maxey combined to shoot just 10-of-32 from the field (2-of-10 from three-point range). The team as a whole made just 6-of-30 three-pointers.

The Hawks also went on two separate 12-0 runs: one to cap the third quarter and another one a few minutes into the fourth.

This was a disappointing loss for a 76ers team that had just beaten the 8-3 Phoenix Suns 100-88 despite playing without James Harden (right foot tendon strain). However, the Hawks game showed how much the team misses him right now.

Twitter let its feelings known about the 76ers' performance during and after the game.

The 5-7 76ers will have a quick chance for revenge when they host the Hawks on Saturday.

As Kyrie Irving's status with the Brooklyn Nets remains uncertain, his partnership with Nike could be coming to an end.

During an appearance on CNBC that aired Thursday (h/t the Associated Press), Nike co-founder Phil Knight said it's unlikely the company will keep its working relationship with Irving.

"I would doubt that we go back," Knight explained. "But I don't know for sure."

Nike announced last week it suspended its relationship with Irving and canceled the scheduled release of his new signature shoe that was scheduled to launch on Nov. 11.

The decision comes amid the fallout from Irving's promotion of a movie containing antisemitic ideas.

Despite being given multiple opportunities, Irving refused to apologize in the immediate aftermath. Speaking to reporters Nov. 3, Irving refused to say sorry or say definitively he didn't have antisemitic beliefs.

After Irving's press conference, the Nets announced they were suspending the seven-time All-Star for at least five games and that he won't be reinstated until he "satisfies a series of objective remedial measures" to address the negative impact caused by his conduct.

Following the suspension announcement, Irving issued an apology on Instagram:

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported a list of six things the Nets are requiring Irving to complete before considering reinstating him:

Charania reported Irving and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met in person Tuesday.

Per ESPN's Nick Friedell, Irving's contact with Nike was set to expire Oct. 1, 2023. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported in May the sports apparel giant was "unlikely" to renew its deal with the Nets guard.

Irving signed with Nike in 2011, the same year he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. His first signature shoe was released in 2014.

Brandon Ingram was not about to let the New Orleans Pelicans lose for a third time in a row.

Ingram out-clutched DeMar DeRozan and led the Pelicans to a 115-111 road victory on Thursday at the United Center. New Orleans improved to 6-5 on the season and snapped its two-game losing streak thanks in large part to the forward's efforts down the stretch.

The final two minutes unfolded as a showdown between DeRozan and Ingram—with the Pels up 104-103—with the following sequence:

• DeRozan layup puts Bulls ahead by one
• Ingram midrange jumper puts Pelicans ahead by one
• DeRozan free throws put Bulls ahead by one
• Ingram three-pointer puts Pelicans ahead by two
• DeRozan dunk ties it
• Ingram midrange jumper puts Pelicans ahead by two

New Orleans finally got a defensive stop from there and was able to ice the win away on the free-throw line.

That type of performance also earned Ingram plenty of love on social media:

Ingram finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the win, but it wasn't a solo effort for the entire game. Jonas Valančiūnas' double-double (21 points and 13 rebounds) and Zion Williamson's secondary scoring (19 points) helped set the stage for the dramatic finish.

But Ingram proving that he can take on fellow stars in crunch time and come out on top is key for the Pelicans if they are going to compete as legitimate Western Conference threats this season.

Williamson is excellent, but it is going to take more than just his individual brilliance in the frontcourt for the team to challenge come playoff time.

Ingram will look to build on his performance when New Orleans takes on the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

The New York Knicks entered Wednesday's road game against the Brooklyn Nets as the NBA's most average team, as KnicksMuse and John Hollinger of the Athletic noted:

The Knicks would have settled for "average" Wednesday but instead looked like the unquestioned worst team in basketball in the first half, which saw the Nets jump out to a 69-44 lead en route to a 112-85 win for the visitors.

Julius Randle excelled with 19 first-half points en route to 24 overall, but the rest of the team combined for just 25 points before halftime. Jalen Brunson only had four points and one assist, and RJ Barrett scored just five through the first 24 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Nets led wire-to-wire and took a 24-8 lead to start the game. Kevin Durant finished the half with 15 points and nine assists, while Edmond Sumner (15 points) and SethCurry (14 points) combined with KD to score as many points as the entire Knicks team over the first half.

This tweet summed up what went down.

It only got worse for the Knicks in the fourth quarter, when they scored just two points in the first 7:23 and five in the first nine minutes before a trio of garbage-time threes for 14 points in the final frame.

New York ended the game shooting 32.2 percent from the field and 12-of-43 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Durant ended up with a 29-point, 12-assist, 12-rebound triple-double, while Sumner (18 points in 19 minutes) and Curry (23 minutes in 23 minutes) did incredible damage despite neither Net even playing half the game.

This was an unmitigated disaster for a Knicks team against a Nets squad in turmoil, given the ongoing Kyrie Irving saga and suspension as well as the parting of ways with head coach Steve Nash.

But in his first game without the "interim" tag, new head coach Jacque Vaughn has his team playing great basketball (3-1 since taking over). The same can't be said for head coach Tom Thibodeau and his Knicks, who dropped to 5-6.

Here's how some of Twitter reached to the Knicks' performance.

The Knicks should be favored in upcoming home games against the young and rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons, but they will have to play much better shortly if they are to survive an impending five-game Western Conference road trip, which starts Nov. 15 against the Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz.

If Jacque Vaughn's first game as head coach without an interim title attached is any indication, there are good things ahead for the Brooklyn Nets.

Brooklyn cruised to a 112-85 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday at Barclays Center and improved to 5-7 on the season. Kyrie Irving missed the game because he is still suspended for promoting an antisemitic film on his social media accounts, but Kevin Durant provided more than enough star power to emerge with a win.

The 12-time All-Star spearheaded the effort with a triple-double of 29 points, 12 assists, 12 rebounds and two blocks. He came out on fire as both a scorer and facilitator, and the home team never looked back.

Social media had nothing but praise for the team's overall effort:

While Durant was the star, it was far from a solo effort.

Edmond Sumner's initial outside shooting helped set the tone, and Seth Curry's smooth stroke from beyond the arc was responsible for six three-pointers. He and Ben Simmons provided a spark off the bench, with the latter impacting the game by creating multiple turnovers and battling for boards even though he is largely an afterthought as a scorer.

The role players were key in keeping the Knicks at bay after the Nets dominated from the start while building a 25-point halftime lead, but Durant was the main story with everything running through him.

The scoring is always there for the future Hall of Famer, but his ability to find open teammates when the Knicks collapsed on him added another dimension to the offense and took the pressure off others.

He and the Nets will look to keep things rolling on the road when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon has been ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons due to right hamstring tightness.

The guard had nine points in 14 minutes before coming out of the game.

Brogdon is in his first year with the Celtics, and he entered Wednesday averaging 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 10 games off the bench.

The Celtics added the veteran in an offseason trade with the Indiana Pacers, strengthening the depth of a team that reached the NBA Finals last season.

Brogdon had been exclusively a starter over the past four years with Indiana and the Milwaukee Bucks, but he has made a quick transition to the second team with Boston while scoring in double figures in seven of his first 10 games. He is a key part of the squad getting off to a 7-3 start to the year.

An extended absence could put pressure on the rest of the rotation, however, with Derrick White likely to see the biggest uptick in minutes. Payton Pritchard should also see a bigger role after getting limited action in the first few weeks.

Injuries are still a concern for Brogdon, who played just 36 games last season and only topped 60 games twice in his first six NBA seasons.

The Celtics will hope the latest issue won't keep the guard off the court for too long.

Ime Udoka was not hired by the Brooklyn Nets, but he could return to a coaching job this season or next, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"[Ime Udoka] will coach again in the NBA, he may coach as soon if not this season somewhere else next season," Wojnarowski said on NBA Today. "I think plenty of teams, just in preparation, have started to do their due diligence on the Udoka situation."

Udoka was suspended as head coach of the Boston Celtics for one year, with Wojnarowski reporting he used "crude language in his dialogue with a female subordinate prior to the start of an improper workplace relationship."

He was considered a "strong frontrunner" to replace Steve Nash as the Nets head coach, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, but Brooklyn instead hired Jacque Vaughn on Wednesday.

According to Charania, one of the reasons the Nets chose not to hire Udoka was "the outcry after word of their plan became known to people outside and inside the organization."

NBA reporter Marc Stein previously noted that "strong voices" urged Nets governor Joe Tsai to reconsider hiring Udoka.

Other teams could have similar blowback if they try to hire Udoka, although a smaller market outside of New York could create a different situation.

The 45-year-old has certainly proved himself as a quality coach on the court, leading the Celtics to an appearance in the NBA final during his first season. The squad went 51-31 during the regular season, good for second in a competitive Eastern Conference.

The defense was especially impressive, leading the NBA in defensive efficiency in 2021-22.

Udoka's resume could be enough to earn him a new job before long.