On January 6, Beijing time, the 2021-22 NBA regular season is in full swing. In today's East Focus game, the Nets will challenge the Pacers on the road. Before the game began, the Nets announced the starting lineup for today's game, and Irving, who had been absent for 207 days, returned to the team's starting lineup.
Perhaps because of the long lack of battle, Irving's performance after the opening was very average, and he did not enter the state for a long time. His first shot was deflected off the basket, and then in one round, Irving's pass was destroyed by the Pacers. He then received Harden's pass, turned and broke into the inside to throw, but was blocked by pacers Turner!
On the first timeout, Irving was substituted for a break. Three minutes before the end of the quarter, Irving replaced Harden and returned to the court again, but his hands still felt bad, and he tried to get rid of his opponents in succession, but the shot was still offside. In the first quarter, Irving played 8 minutes, 0-of-3 without a point, and only 1 assist was scored.
In the second quarter, Irving finally scored!
Irving last appeared in the NBA on June 14 last year, and in last season's Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4, Irving suffered an injury and withdrew early, and the Nets were eventually eliminated by the later championship Bucks 3:4. In the last season, Irving averaged 34.9 minutes per game, was able to produce 26.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.4 steals, shooting 50.6% from the field and 40.2% from three-point range.
According to previous reports, due to the refusal to get the new crown vaccine, the Nets made a decision to ban Irving from playing and training, and then due to the team's serious injuries and new crown attacks, Irving and the Nets re-agreed that he would play in the team's away games. Excluding today's game, Irving missed the Nets' first 35 games of the season, and the Nets finished 23-12 and ranked second in the East.