HOUSTON — The longer Kyrie Irving refuses to talk to the press — and he’s five weeks past when he was required to by NBA rules — the more salacious rumors will multiply. Now Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher is offering rumors in one hand and recriminations in the other.

The Post has learned the Nets haven’t applied for a Hardship Exception, which would imply at least two of Irving, Caris LeVert and Nic Claxton — the latter two having done at least some practice — will be back within two weeks. But their refusal to give a timetable and Irving’s refusal to talk fosters rampant speculation.

Bucher suggested on WFAN that Irving — who hasn’t played, practiced or spoken to the media since Nov. 14 — is suffering from more than a shoulder impingement. And he intimated it’s not just a physical health issue, but a mental health one.

“I hate to buy into salacious rumors, but I’ve heard it from enough different places — and some of which I give credibility — that there’s a lot more going on with Kyrie than just physical issues, that he’s struggling,” Bucher said. “I think we remember the Instagram post after the Boston reception — or rather reaction. And so there’s some things that he has to work out, I don’t know, psychologically, mentally, however you want to determine it.

“But my understanding is that there’s more going on here than just physical issues. And where that stands and what he’s doing to get that taken care of, I don’t know. But there are some troubling signs that I’ve been told that there’s more than just physical ailments that he’s dealing with.”

Some might recall Bucher had Irving — and Kevin Durant — as “a lock” to go to the Knicks this summer. And he even acknowledges this as rumor — one that coach Kenny Atkinson tried to simultaneously ignore and deny at the same time.

“I didn’t hear about the report and really no reaction to that. In my mind Kyrie’s been great with the Nets, he’s been great with me, great with his teammates,” Atkinson said. “I think he’s going through a tough time with his shoulder, and he’s doing everything he can do to get back to playing. I know he’s desperate to get back.“Like I’ve said all along, the shoulder’s a tricky one. We all want to be confident and sure that the shoulder’s right and we can have him long-term. … We’re a big-picture organization, that’s important we’ve relayed that message to him, and the medical team understands that. That being said, we want him back ASAP. But no comment on the report.”

Taurean Prince shook out an extended slump with 16 points, going 4-of-8 from 3.

“Nice to see the ball go in,” said Prince, ejected along with Russell Westbrook for verbal sparring with 20 seconds left in the game. “The conversation was super-light. Wasn’t anything to get ejected for. But that’s something I’ll have my people talk with the league about. It is what it is.”

Theo Pinson (11 points) led a strong bench effort that nearly rallied the Nets from 22 points down.

LeVert did more contact Saturday, and is nearing a return.