He missed the first shot of the game, a …

He missed the first shot of the game, a pull-up jumper that coach Steve Nash scripted for him. Nash called it “a welcome back gift” for Irving, but Irving acknowledged afterward that he felt some pressure on that attempt. “I was so caught up in just making my first two points, I was so nervous,” Irving said. “Naturally, as a performer, I still get nervous. But that first shot, I wanted that to go in. I settled down closer to the second half. Once I came back out, I said, whatever is needed out there, I’m just going to do and I know everyone is going to follow suit like they’ve been doing all season.”