Kyrie Returns After 8 Game Benching
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Jazz Johnson
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
In the return of Kyrie Irving from an eight-game suspension, the
Brooklyn Nets played a lackluster first half against a Memphis
Grizzlies team without superstar Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren
Jackson, Jr. But Brooklyn dominated the second half, and reserve Yuta
Watanabe scored 12 fourth-quarter points to put Memphis away, 127-115.
Kevin Durant led the team with 26 points, seven assists, and seven
rebounds, while Ben Simmons added 22 points and eight rebounds. Irving
finished with 14 points in 26 minutes.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said he spoke with the team
about focusing solely on basketball, and when Irving spoke after the
game, he seemed to have gotten the message. Irving deflected when
asked about a Black Israelite group of hundreds that gathered before
the game. He then later explained why.
“I would like to be on a platform where I could openly share what I
feel without being harshly criticized or being labeled or dealing with
outside perceptions that have nothing to do with me,” Irving
explained. “Again, I said this morning(while speaking to the media), I
just want to elaborate on just everyone getting to know who [Kyrie
Irving] is.”
With the return of Irving out of the way, the Brooklyn Nets walk into
another media circus as Simmons faced his former team in Philadelphia
Tuesday night.
