“Feel Like We Owed Them”: Hornets Stars React to Win Over Nets, Spoiling Kyrie Irving’s Home Debut

Posted on by Jack Marks

Kyrie Irving had been looking forward to playing in front of his home supporters all season, and this was not the way he had envisioned it. The Charlotte Hornets ruined Irving’s first home game of the season by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 119-110 on Sunday night, paced by LaMelo Ball’s 33 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.

Kyrie Irving had his home debut in Brooklyn, but he finished with 16 points on 27 percent shooting from the field. LaMelo Ball, PJ Washington, and the rest of the Buzz City team received some retribution on Sunday night after he scored 50 points on them earlier this month.

Kyrie Irving - the Brooklyn Nets

LaMelo Ball and PJ Washington open up on winning against Kyrie Irving and the Nets

“We feel like we owed them. They came to our place and beat us pretty bad, so everybody was locked in. From earlier this morning, to walk through, we came in and did what we had to do,” PJ Washington said.

“We know how series each game is and everyone is taking it seriously,” he added.

Irving struggled for three and a half quarters before warming up to give the Nets the lead, and then the Hornets reclaimed control with clutch 3-point shooting to earn them a win that matched them for an eighth place in the Eastern Conference with Brooklyn. Irving had 16 points and 11 assists, tying his season-best, although he went 6 for 22 from the field.

Mayor Eric Adams last week exempted sportsmen and artists from New York City’s coronavirus vaccination mandate, allowing him to play at home this season. Irving’s first home game was against Milwaukee in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Irving’s return came at a critical moment for the Nets, as they embarked on an eight-game run to complete the regular season, just one of which was outside of New York.