Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie)
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving was traded away a year ago, but he’s never fully left New York.
Not when he grew up in the area as a Nets fan, and not when so many family and friends were in attendance when he came back Tuesday night.
He gave them quite a show.
Irving scored 36 points, leading the Mavericks to a 119-107 victory and then spending time signing autographs and greeting his old fans in the stands.
“Just like any other basketball game, but it felt like I was home tonight,” Irving said.
Luka Doncic had 35 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists as the Mavericks’ guard tandem took turns hitting some deep 3-pointers in the second half when the Nets were trying to make a run. Doncic quickly shed the mask he began the game with to protect a nasal contusion and just missed his 10th triple-double of the season.
Irving was booed when he touched the ball in the early going, though he turned those to cheers after finishing one of his fancy drives for a reserve layup or hitting one of his six 3-pointers — and especially when when he rose high to slam down a lob pass in the third quarter.
“That was amazing. That was impressive,” Doncic said of the play that Irving said he called for himself, telling Josh Green he could get up to catch the pass.
Irving, who is second to Vince Carter in Nets franchise history with his 14 40-point games, nearly got one against Brooklyn after returning from a six-game absence with a sprained right thumb for Monday’s victory at Philadelphia.
Mikal Bridges scored 28 points and Royce O’Neal had 18 for the short-handed Nets, who trimmed a 23-point deficit to 107-101 with about five minutes remaining before Irving knocked down two straight 3-pointers for a 113-101 lead.
“It’s tough. Ky has the extreme…
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