Without Kevin Durant in the Brooklyn Nets lineup, Kyrie Irving more than set the tone in a big win … [+]
PRESS ASSOCIATED
With Kevin Durant out, the Brooklyn Nets struggling at 3-4 and a resurrected starting line-up posted by head coach Steve Nash, Kyrie Irving was just as emotional in a 130-96 win Tuesday over at the Utah Jazz.
Superstars step up in times of need, and Irving delivered with 29 points, six rebounds and five assists with a 12-of-19 shooting. He also had three conductors and looked inspired and determined to lead a Nets reel team that missed their best player.
With Bruce Brown, Jeff Green and Jarrett Allen joining Kyrie and Taurean Prince in the starting five, Brooklyn suffered a head injury and looked to shake things up after four of the his last five games were lost to go down below .500.
Irving made sure to set the tone immediately and delivered the first round for the Nets.
In 10 minutes and seven seconds of the first quarter, Irving scored 18 points on a 7-of-7 shooting. Brooklyn led 20-4 and 28-7 before finishing the frame up 35-14, which Utah would never get a lead back. His scoring result was the most the Nets player has received in any quarter of this season.
Irving was busy and eagerly looking for teammates in a transition like Allen, who had 19 points, 18 rebounds, three career highs and two blocks as regular starter DeAndre Jordan on his plastering with false positives from the exit.
Allen did a commendable job defensively on Rudy Gobert, more than making the most of his chance in his first start of the season. Gobert held on to 10 points and 11 rebounds on a 3-of-10 shot, with Allen turning and altering a few Stifle Tower shots.
Before halftime, Irving had 22 points on a 9-of-12 shooting with four rebounds, four assists and three assists as Brooklyn led Utah 63-44. With Brooklyn comfortably ahead and Kyrie’s work done fundamentally, Caris LeVert gained more control of the offense later in the third quarter and rewarded the Nets with a 12-point quarterback on a 5-for-7 shot. . He finished with a season-high 24.
Utah entered the game first in the league in rebounding, first in offensive rebounding percentage and 5th in defensive rebounding percentage. Nash knew this had been a problem for the Nets, who went into the last dead matchup in a defensive rebound percentage.
“It’s a weakness in our team. We all know it, ”Nash said before the game. “We have to be tough and physical and we want and try and compete. ”
Allen and the Nets ensured Brooklyn would be deficient in this area Tuesday, and the Nets finished with a definite 51-42 margin. Utah fired 38.8% off the field and 32.4% from three, as Brooklyn easily had the best defensive effort of the season.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 31 points on a 10-of-22 shooting. Jordan Clarkson scored 12 goals and Gobert and Royce O’Neale had 10.
With Durant out at least the other three games, Brooklyn needed a spark in a big way going into games against Utah and the East ‘s leading Philadelphia 76ers. Irving’s motivated effort and Nash’s line change made big gains. On one night the Nets were desperately looking for a spark of any kind, Kyrie Irving delivered early and often to bring the Brooklyn record to 4-4.