The Brooklyn Nets have finally won their first game since Kevin Durant injured his meniscus. Kyrie Irving led the New york Franchise to a much-needed win over the Utah Jazz. For the Nets, this may very well be a turning point. They have been criticized relentlessly over their incapability to win with Kevin Durant absent.
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Kendrick Perkins was one of the pundits who openly quoted his dissatisfaction with Jacque Vaughn’s squad. After their last loss to Phoenix Suns, the former player-turned-analyst called them out for their 4-game losing streak.
He claimed: “Kyrie Irving, without a superstar on his team, he has a below-average winning record. … Can you win regular season games for a short period of time as you being the leader and the go-to guy? And right now, the answer is no.”
However, after the game against Utah, Perkins subtly backtracked on his initial statement.
Kendrick Perkins praises Kyrie Irving for winning without Kevin Durant
After the game, Perkins took to his Twitter to praise Kyrie Irving for the win. He congratulated the star for putting on a show.
Perkins: “On the plane right now… but I see Kyrie put on a show tonight and finally led the Nets to their first win without KD!!!! Congratulations and Carry the hell on…”
Perkins’ backtracking, honestly, is justified. Irving did put on a 48-point show Friday night and absolutely dominated the Utah Jazz.
What made Irving so spectacular tonight was his field goal efficiency. Irving made 18 of his 29 shots with a 62.1 field goal percentage. Moreover, Kyrie also made 8 of his 15 three-point attempts with 53.3% shooting accuracy. Irving also registered 11 rebounds in the game. Offense aside, Kai was also a defensive beast. He had 4 steals and was brilliant on the perimeter.
The Nets need to win more games in KD’s absence
The Nets have won only 1 of their 5 games in Durant’s absence. KD, before his injury, was putting up MVP-worthy numbers. In fact, he was one of the front runners in the MVP race for this season.
But after his injury, the Nets have been without perhaps the best scorer in the league. Kevin Durant’s extraordinary size and agility make him one of a kind.
But in his absence, Kyrie Irving is responsible for leading the team to victory. If he can continuously perform like tonight, the Nets should be able to put up a tough fight in their upcoming matchups.
