The Brooklyn Nets are 24-12 after another road win, this one a 129-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Nets are now 24-12, 1.5 games behind the first place Chicago Bulls. They're tied with the Utah Jazz at 14-3 for the best away record in the NBA. Oh right, and we almost forgot to mention, Kyrie Irving is back to help them further turbo charge those road games. Irving let his guard down and shared his feelings after a debut like no other. 

The former first overall pick dropped 22 points in his return, he had 10 in the fourth to lead all scorers in that final frame. He came just in the knick of time to help the team snap a three game skid, their first losing streak of the year.

Kevin Durant is leading the NBA in scoring, averaging a clean 30 points per game. In this one he had a game high 39 points, to go with seven dimes and eight boards. He's put himself in place to make a push for another MVP award, having taken it down in 2014 when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But you could tell Durant was extra happy to have his friend and superstar teammate back in the fold in this one.

What was it like having Irving back for the first time?

“Incredible,” gushed Durant after the win. “But it was amazing to have him out there, I mean I just missed his presence around the locker room, his energy, his vibe around the team and then on top his game is just so beautiful, he makes the game so much easier for everybody out there. It was amazing to see him out on the floor again, the crowd showed him so much love, his teammates, just the game of basketball  is happy to have him back.”

With Durant second in the NBA in minutes played per game with 37.1, Steve Nash will definitely try to get that number down now that he has some help in the scoring column from Irving.

James Harden has also taken on a big-time role with Kyrie having been out. At Indiana The Beard 18 points, six dimes, and five boards on 5 of 12 shooting. He kept the pressure on Indiana by getting to the free throw line for ten attempts, draining eight. But the Nets came out flat defensively, and allowed 73 first half points. That lackluster effort has been the main culprit for their recent woes.

How was it having Kyrie back?

“Man, special,” said Harden. “Felt like he's been playing all season. He looked comfortable as usual, his pace, his rhythm. He looked like Kyrie. Definitely needed him, felt good to have him on the court. our spirit, energy is better.”

Both Harden and KD cracked the 40 minute mark in this one, not exactly lending credibility to the theory that Irving's presence would immediately mean they'd get more chances to rest. But nobody was complaining after another road win.

Did Irving appear nervous to you?

“He was normal Ky,” said Harden. “He's chill, get into his pregame routine, and just be ready to go be a beast out there on the court. Took him some time to get back into the flow of the game but once he did, especially when we needed it, he delivered,” said Harden. “It's gonna take some time, just because we gotta get used to him being on the road, not at home, things like that. We've been a resilient group all year we'll eventually figure it out,” added the 2018 league MVP.

 

Nets star Kevin Durant was asked if he thought Irving was feelings nervous before the game.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray appearing at an airport with bags packed and a plane ticket in hand

Fabian Diego Miguel de la Paz ·

Kevin Durant of the Suns spoke out about the team's mission going forward.

Nick Meyer ·

Mavericks' Luka Doncic and Mavericks' Kyrie Irving both inside of the American Airlines Center with their eyes popping out looking to the left.

Joey Mistretta ·

“I'm sure he was,” said Nets star Kevin Durant, clearly in a great mood after the win. “I know he didn't act that way. He got a nice poker face. But I'm sure he was. You know, haven't played in a long time, gettin' thrown into the fire like this mid season then, I'm sure he was a little nervous but it didn't seem that way as the game went on, he got comfortable. You seen him make highly athletic plays, knock down jump shots, it looked like he'd been around for awhile. That's how you play when you're just elite at everything on the basketball court.”

Indeed, that's how you play we're you're elite at everything. Like riding a bike. So if Irving has such a good poker face, does he have any tells where you can decode his feelings? That question prompted some personality analysis of Irving.

“Nah, he's just, Ky usually say if he's been nervous or you know he'll let people know his emotions. Sometimes when he tells me he a little nervous and I think back I'm like ‘he didn't look like it 'cause the vibe didn't feel like you were nervous but he internalizes a lot, he's a quiet person naturally but he goes out there and plays with a lot of energy and passion….”

Brooklyn is back home Friday against the reigning champs the Milwaukee Bucks, where they'll need to adjust to life without Irving again in a hurry. They lost to the team who eliminated them from the playoffs back during this year's opener. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 and 14 in that one and poses challenges for every team. Irving could play in these monster home games if he were to get vaccinated or if something else were to change. He addressed that subject after the win at Indiana. 

The next of the 22 remaining games Irving is eligible to play in will be Portland, following by Chicago on the 10th and 12th respectively. It's pretty wild to write about Kyrie Irving playing basketball and not his feelings about preventative medicine. One thing that was unmistakable, James Harden and Kevin Durant seems especially happy to have their All-Star buddy back.