February 07, (THEWILL) – On Tuesday night, on the first anniversary of his trade to Dallas, Kyrie Irving made a triumphant return to Brooklyn. The mercurial point guard poured in 36 points as his Mavericks steamrolled past his former Nets team, 119-107.
The win improves the Mavericks to 28-23 on the campaign, while the loss drops the struggling Nets to 20-30. Irving received a mixed reaction from the Barclays Center crowd but had the last laugh with a flashy dunk in the second half. His backcourt partner Luka Doncic was equally sublime, notching 35 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists in a superstar performance.
Both players emphasised the importance of the victory with key players still sidelined. “We’re just dangerous when we’re both aggressive,” said Irving on their developing chemistry. For team leader Doncic, health remains the priority: “We haven’t really played healthy. It’s tough to play on the road, but I think we did a great job in both games.”
With six three-pointers on the night, Irving kept Brooklyn at bay whenever they threatened a comeback. His stellar outing will only intensify the frustration amongst Nets fans at seeing their former star realise his potential elsewhere.
For the free-flowing Mavericks, this was another statement win as they push towards the upper echelons of the Western Conference.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
