Kyrie Returns Nets End Losing Streak

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, playing in his first game since declaring he would not get vaccinated, was in the starting line when the team visited the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night. Irving had a slow start in which he scored no points and had 1 turnover when he was replaced by Patty Mills with 6:49 left in the first quarter and the Nets leading 13-12. When Kyrie returned with 3:19, the team trailed 26-24. Pacers guard Lance Stevenson, who only scored 5 points in the loss to the Knicks the night before, came off the bench scoring 20 points sparking the team to a 37-32 first quarter lead. 

 

Irving’s first two baskets would come in the second quarter. The second cutting the lead to 5 at 41-36. Meanwhile, Stevenson stayed hot and even with Kyrie chipping in 9 points, Brooklyn was down 13 (73-60) at halftime. The second half was all the Nets led by Kevin Durant with a big assist from the unvaccinated Irving. 

 

After scoring 14 first quarter points, Durant was shut out in the second. Durant Rebounded scoring 10 in the third with DeAndre Bembry adding 6 cutting the lead to 7 at 101-94. From that point on, the Nets turned up both the offensive and defensive intensity. They outscored Indiana 35-20 in the fourth quarter running away with a 129-121 victory. Durant (39 points) and Irving (22 points) scored 8 points each bringing an end to their 3-game losing streak. Native New Yorker Stevenson, who was signed only 2 days ago, was shut down in the second half scoring only 10 points. Nets LaMarcus Aldridge came off the bench to add 13 points. 

 

 

 

Said Irving of his debut, “l’ve had a lot of debuts, he began. “But nothing comes close to this one. It meant a little bit more because, at this stage, taking off eight months or being out of the game for eight months and coming back in, there’s so much uncertainty.” Durant added, “it was incredible. It was amazing to have him out there. I just missed his presence around the locker room, his energy, his vibe around the team. And then on top of that, his game is just so beautiful. He makes the game easier for everybody out there.”

 

Kyrie Irving still will not be able to play home games at the Barclays Center which means he will miss Friday’s game when the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks come to town. The Nets had a 2-1 lead when they faced each other in last year’s playoffs when Irving’s ankle was stepped on by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Irving would not play another game and Brooklyn would lose the series in 7 games.

 

At the beginning of the year, the team told Irving he would not be allowed to play road games. Then, Covid ravaged the team forcing cancellations. The team then changed their minds leading to his debut.

 

Only Kyrie Irving knows whether or not he will get vaccinated before the regular season is over. If they are the top seed when the playoffs begin and have home court advantage throughout, Irving would once again put the team and the organization in a very difficult position if he decides not to get vaccinated.