By the Associated Press
NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving hadn’t played in two months and all he did in his return was make 10 of 11 shots in the best shooting night of his career.
He knows it won’t always be that easy.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) slaps hands with his teammates, including DeAndre Jordan (6), during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
“I mean, I’m not going to shoot 10 for 11,” he said with a laugh. “I hope I can shoot 10 for 11 every night.”
The Brooklyn Nets will take whatever they can get after seeing how much a healthy Irving means to them.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) talks with Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The point guard scored 21 points in 20 minutes in his return from an injured right shoulder, leading the Nets to a 108-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
Irving made a career-best 90.9% of his shots after missing 26 games with an impingement. The shoulder looked fine and his handle looked as good as ever while he dribbled his way around a hopeless Atlanta defense.
Energized by his return that still seemed a ways away just a week ago, the Nets led by 39 points and won their second straight after dropping seven in a row.
“We had a certain confidence about us tonight that I think we were missing during that streak,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “So great, great timing having him back.”
Cam Reddish scored 20 points for the Hawks, who played without star guard Trae Young because of a left hamstring injury and lost their fourth straight.
The Nets made it such an easy night that their fans didn’t need to worry about the scoreboard as they roared for Vince Carter’s two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. The 42-year-old former Nets star finished with eight points in his final road appearance against the franchise.
“Obviously to come back here, and some of the other stops I’ve played for, and just kind of to receive a standing O for one last time is just great,” Carter said.
Irving began feeling pain in his shoulder early in the season, and he took himself out of the lineup after a game in Denver on Nov. 14. The Nets held up well without him for a while thanks mostly to Spencer Dinwiddie’s strong play, but had faltered recently, especially in crunch time.
Irving got a cortisone shot on Dec. 24 and returned to full practice this week, just in time to return on his sister’s birthday.
“It’s not really a surprise for me,” Irving said of his performance. “I put in the work and when I do that I feel like the results will come.”
He started alongside Dinwiddie to share the playmaking responsibilities and did most of his scoring near the basket, making the only 3-pointer he attempted. The Nets were already leading 70-46 at halftime before he went 5 for 5 for 10 points in a dazzling six-minute stretch of the third quarter.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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