NEW YORK — Tuesday marked the return of two players that have a profound impact on their respective teams: Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. While Irving’s return was because he was traded away from the Nets last season, Simmons’ return was because of injury maintenance. However, Simmons was able to reflect on the game.
“Collectively, we got to know every game is going to be a battle and a challenge,” Simmons said after putting up nine points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in Tuesday’s 119-107 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Simmons and the Nets had a tough task ahead of them as they were playing the second night of a back-to-back, missing several key rotation players, and had to face Irving.
“It was one of those things where we got to compete every night,” Simmons said in terms of how the Nets have to play on a nightly basis if they want to win games. “We don’t have KD (Kevin Durant, Kyrie (Irving), guys like that now. So, it’s more of a collective effort offensively and defensively, but it starts with defense.”
Speaking of Irving, he put up 36 points and five assists on a very efficient 15-of-24 shooting from the field and 6-of-10 shooting from three-point land. He looked comfortable throughout the entire game and it looked like he relished in the fact that he was playing so well that the boos dissipate towards the end of the contest.
“It felt like I was home tonight,” Irving said after Dallas’ win. “Getting here early, warming up, just getting a good sense of the rims, the atmosphere, what it was going to be like and just mentally preparing myself for the game, just letting the game come to me, and allowing the basketball gods to do the rest.”
With Dallas’ win, the Mavericks have swept the season series with the Nets 2-0. So, the Nets won’t be seeing Dallas again for the rest of the season and also, they gave the last tribute of the Big 3 era. Now, Brooklyn will most likely be worried about the trade deadline on Thursday before facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
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