NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving is back for the Brooklyn Nets, and his impact was immediate.
Irving had 21 points, on 10-of-11 shooting, to go along with four rebounds and three assists, leading the Nets to a 108-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Sunday night at Barclays Center. Though he played only 20 minutes, Brooklyn had a plus-22 point differential while he was in there.
2 Related
Irving had been sidelined for 26 games with a right shoulder injury. But he recently returned to practice, and Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said the point guard would start Sunday night. Three hours before tip-off, Irving was on the court shooting. He took jump shots and 3-pointers, whizzed around the court exercising his famous handles and practiced free throws.
By the looks of his pregame warm-up, bystanders wouldn’t be able to guess that Irving hadn’t played since mid-November because of an impingement. He released shots without a hitch, even though his shooting arm required a cortisone shot last month.
Irving said last week that surgery could still be a consideration if there was no improvement, but he took part in full workouts during the week, and Atkinson said Irving is ready.
His effort helped Brooklyn to a second straight win, following a season-high seven-game losing streak, and a renewed vigor was present from the team, both on the floor and the bench.
Atlanta played without Trae Young, who has a left hamstring injury. Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said his second-year star received treatment Saturday but still felt soreness Sunday. Brandon Goodwin started in his place, and had eight points, four rebounds and two steals.
The Hawks’ decision kept the fans from a Young-Irving matchup, the two current Eastern Conference leaders at guard in fan voting for the All-Star Game.
Without Irving this season, the Nets have a 13-13 record. Spencer Dinwiddie, who moved from the sixth man slot to starting point guard in Irving’s absence, started alongside Irving on Sunday, finishing with seven points and eight assists. The Nets had never started the two together before. Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince and Joe Harris also started.
Typically, the Nets exercise extreme caution when it comes to bringing back injured players. Caris LeVert, who missed nearly seven weeks with a thumb injury, was a starter before his surgery in mid-November. Sunday marked his fourth game back from injury and he has yet to start. LeVert had 13 points vs. the Hawks.
“We treat every player individually,” Atkinson said pregame. “I can just say, yes we are conservative, but we are about player care first and foremost.”
Information from ESPN’s Malika Andrews and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Credit: Source link