The Brooklyn Nets traveled to take on the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Normally that game wouldn't garner much national attention. But it was Kyrie Irving's first game of the season. All eyes were on the 6'2” guard who missed the first 35 games of the year because he's not yet vaccinated. The Nets initially decided they don't want part-time players, but general manager Sean Marks and the front office changed their mind after being hit with a wave of COVID-19 cases.
Not every team has the luxury to tap a superstar to fill in for players entering health and safety protocols like the Nets. The Pacers turned to Lance Stephenson, who was with the squad in his first four years in the NBA. It was perfectly fitting that Stephenson nearly stole the show in Irving's debut.
“Born Ready” returned to his former team amid the wave of 10-day contracts and hardship exceptions being offered to available free agents, as teams scrambled to field enough bodies in an ongoing pandemic. Lance was making them dance. He scored 20 points in the first quarter, hitting four shots from downtown, including a buzzer-beater to end the period.
we have just witnessed the most unfathomable heater of the NBA season. Lance Stephenson hits his 20th point of the quarter at the buzzer in SIX minutes played. unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/oFFSvWmPeh
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 6, 2022
Irving started off a little bit cold but would eventually find his rhythm. The seven-time All-Star finished with 22 points, helping snap a three-game losing streak for Kevin Durant and company.
“I just think it's funny cause it would happen to us. You know what I mean, they had 37 points and he had 20,” James Harden said about Stephenson, as he shook his head after the game.
“We didn't play hard enough, we didn't show enough respect for the game, we weren't into bodies, gave up 73 points in the first half, that's unacceptable,” said coach Steve Nash.
The Nets were down by 17 points with just over 15 minutes remaining. But they stormed back. Durant's game-high 39 points and Irving's 10 markers in the fourth quarter fueled the comeback.
Kyrie did it on both ends with 22 points and 3 steals@KyrieIrving #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/LV5QGotPFa
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 6, 2022
“Yeah, I think we've shown that when guys are out of the lineup, we let our foot off the gas,” admitted Nash. “I don't think it's giving away team secrets to say that. It took us to get in a deep hole before we kinda showed the game the respect it deserved, the opposition, when at that point (the Pacers had a) lot of confidence, they can see a big win.”
Nash also lamented that they let Stephenson get loose. He provided a major spark with 30 points and five assists in 32 minutes of action.
“(We) kind of let (Stephenson) dance around, went under screens, let him shoot, once you let the cat out of the bag by making defensive lapses. A guy can get hot,” added Nash.
After the game, Irving was asked if the game meant a little something extra. Maybe felt some pregame jitters.
“I think in the first possession when I shot that shot, I was so caught in just making my first two points, I was so nervous, and naturally. You know, as a performer, I still get nervous. But that first shot was like ‘Man, I wanted that to go in' then I settled down,” admitted Irving.
Did he feel any growing pains being out there for the first time in so long?
“Oh yeah, absolutely. Absolutely,” said a candid and emotional Irving. “It honestly hit me in the first half when we were just watching Lance Stephenson give us his best rendition of his show. I told Lance during the game, ‘I don't think I've ever seen you have a 20-point quarter like that.' His debut, here at Indiana, we knew was going to be a big deal but we didn't know he was gonna come out like that. And we all took it personal when we came out in that second half.”
Stephenson attempted to steal the show. He may have earned some more run beyond his 10-day contract. But it sounds like Irving hinted he may have also poked the bear, causing the Nets to take things personally and steal back the night. This was supposed to be Irving's big return not Stephenson's. But for a while there, it almost went the other way. As Harden might say, that would happen to them.
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