Kyrie Irving Leads the Nets in an Upset Victory Over the Bucks
After a disappointing loss to the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets were able to bounce back with a 126-123 road win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kyrie Irving, who hasn’t played since February 16, led the team in scoring a season-high of 38 points, with five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. He was making crazy, highly contested shots, using his elite ball-handling skills to evade defenders.
“When you watch Kyrie, it feels like he’s in a video game. It’s just crazy how he moves and how he’s making those tough shots,” the newest Net, Goran Dragic said.
Dragic played his first game with the Nets on Saturday where he contributed six points, three rebounds and two assists.
Although Irving put up 38 points, this was a team effort with four other Nets in double figures: Seth Curry (19), Andre Drummond (17), Bruce Brown (15) and LaMarcus Aldrige (11).
“When you play with guys coming off the ball, being very selfless and putting their body on the line, it just makes my job a lot easier and just lead the offense as the best I can as the point guard,” Irving said.
The Bucks had the lead for most of the first half but the third quarter was where the Nets started to get cooking. Brooklyn outscored Milwaukee, 43-34, and led as many as 13 points.
However, with the Nets up 89-78 late in the third, the Bucks were able to get back into the game thanks to Bobby Portis’ 8-0 scoring run, cutting Brooklyn’s lead to five points. Portis scored a team-high of 30 points, including a record high of eight three-pointers. The Nets ended the quarter up 96-93.
The fourth quarter had six lead changes and was pretty much a back-and-forth between each team. It wasn’t until the last minutes of the game where it got real intense. Bruce Brown hitting a triple, gave the Nets a one-point lead and got it starting. James Johnson and Drummond made two huge defensive stops for Brooklyn.
In final moments of the game, each team was fouling each other and took turns at the free-throw line (which actually made the game even more intense).
With 0:7 seconds left and Brooklyn up 121-119, Seth Curry quickly fouled Khris Middleton, right before he tried to throw up a shot from behind the arc. The referee initially called it “in the act of shooting”, but reversed the ruling once he discussed it with the other two officials.
Following LaMarcus Aldridge’s two clutch free-throws that gave Brooklyn a 126-123 lead, Milwaukee had one last possession to tie it. As time expired Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 29 points, put up a three but couldn’t knock it down.
Despite the news that New York City will be lifting its mandate, Kyrie Irving might not be able to play home games because of the private-sector mandate.
This had many people confused about Irving’s status since he can enter Barclays Center as a spectator but can’t play, per Shams Charania.
Reportedly, there is a chance that Barclays could lift the mandate which would allow him to play home games as soon as March 13 against the New York Knicks.
While Irving’s playing status is up in the air, there’s still some hope for Nets World as Kevin Durant is expected to return within the next few games, per coach Steve Nash. Ben Simmons on the other hand is still reconditioning and is facing some back soreness.
"It's just kind of like as he's returning to play his back's flared up a little bit. It's not a long-term thing," Nash said.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s unlikely Simmons will play in the March 10 game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brooklyn will be hosting the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, meaning Irving will not be able to participate.
