Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball One-And-Done Torches Former Team in First Time Back

Duke basketball product Kyrie Irving seemed to enjoy silencing his detractors in Brooklyn.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
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On Tuesday night, in former Duke basketball guard Kyrie Irving's first return to the Barclays Center since requesting a trade last February, the Dallas Mavericks sensation unsurprisingly drew a chorus of boos from the Brooklyn Nets crowd during his introduction as a starter.

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Those boos grew louder as the 31-year-old New Jersey native missed his first couple of attempts from the field.

Irving heated up, though, to the tune of a game-high 36 points, shooting 15-for-24 overall and 6-for-10 beyond the arc in the Mavericks' 119-107 win. The one-time NBA champion, who went No. 1 overall at the 2011 NBA Draft following his one-and-campaign with the Blue Devils, added two rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

Kyrie Irving, now averaging 25.5 points, 5.0 boards, 5.4 dimes, and 1.4 steals while shooting a career-high 42.4 percent from downtown, is one of three Duke basketball talents on the Dallas roster.

But veteran guard Seth Curry didn't receive any minutes on Tuesday night for the Mavericks (28-23), sitting at No. 8 in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, their rookie center from Duke, Dereck Lively II, has been sidelined the past week with a nasal fracture.

And neither of Brooklyn's NBA Blue Devils played in the game. Harry Giles, a seldom-used reserve big man in his first year with the Nets (20-30, No. 11 in the East), remained on the bench. As for rookie forward Dariq Whitehead, he's out for the season after recently undergoing surgery to address the stress reaction in his left shin.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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