Nets’ Kyrie Irving says comeback win against Pelicans ‘shows growth’

January 7, 2023

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving had a game to forget in Friday’s 108-102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Irving finished the game with 19 points, but those points came on 7-of-22 shooting from the field and 3-of-10 from behind the three-point line.

Aside from the first quarter, where he shot 2-of-4 from the field, Irving could not buy a bucket in this game. Even though he hit two clutch threes in the fourth quarter, Irving shot 5-of-18 from the field (27.7%) after the first quarter. It looked like the defense of Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy bothered him as he never looked comfortable at any point in this game.

Irving found a way to make an impact in the game aside from scoring as he put up five rebounds and five assists. He spoke postgame about how coming back from an 11-point deficit to beat the Pelicans shows that the team is growing:

“It just shows you that we have areas of growth. Being challenged by other teams on the road, also at home, it shows we’re growing in some small areas where our communication is at an all-time high, especially when we’re on the road. We understand where we are and then, just the way we execute, you saw a few in and outs from me in the fourth quarter. You look back a year ago, I probably would’ve been pissed.”