It was less than a year ago that Kyrie Irving entered Madison Square Garden wearing an opposing jersey and was showered with love from Knicks fans.
“We want Kyrie,” they chanted last February as Irving led the Celtics to a win over the Knicks.
Sunday, the Garden will finally get Kyrie, albeit in a Nets uniform, and the reception will likely be much more hostile.
“I think it’ll be crazy,” Damyean Dotson said Saturday after the Knicks practiced. “It’s not like he’s going back to Boston, though. … I think it’ll be pretty dope.”
Irving was out with a shoulder impingement the first time the Nets visited the Garden this season, a 103-101 Brooklyn win Nov. 24. The point guard has been healthy for just one of their three showdowns this season, when he scored 26 points in a 113-109 Nets win at Barclays Center in the second game of the year.
But Sunday will certainly be different, the first time Irving is expected to play at the Garden since spurning the Knicks in free agency last summer.
“The atmosphere has been crazy this whole week, so no question, it’s going to be a super-ecstatic atmosphere,” Brooklyn native Taj Gibson said — referencing games against the 76ers, Lakers and Raptors at the Garden. “Hopefully we can match the same intensity and pull out a tough one.”
What will be the key for the Nets on Sunday at the Garden?
“Get as much rest as we can. Take care of our bodies in the morning time. Just come ready to play,” Irving said after scoring 45 points to lead the Nets to a 121-111 overtime victory over the Pistons on Saturday. “Obviously, we know they know that they play pretty different at home. Still, it’s Brooklyn versus New York. And we understand that. It’s going to be a pretty uptempo game.
“The crowd is going to get into it. You look forward to that.”
As for pulling out tough games, the Knicks have been unable to do that recently, losing close contests to all three powerhouses over the past week. They fell apart late against the 76ers for a 90-87 loss last Saturday, ran out of gas against the Lakers to fall 100-92 on Wednesday, then couldn’t stop the Raptors in the final minutes Friday in a 118-112 defeat.
Less than a year after their fans dreamed of landing Irving and Kevin Durant, the Knicks have lost 10 of 12 to sink to 12-34 in an increasingly lost season. But they are hoping to salvage the final game against their crosstown rivals this season.
“We believe we can win that game,” said Marcus Morris, Irving’s former Celtics teammate. “They’ve been struggling, we’ve been struggling, so I know there’s going to be a lot of excitement coming in. Obviously it’s Brooklyn versus the Knicks, so there’s going to be a lot of excitement. I’m looking forward to that game and for the crowd to be hyped. It’s going to be a true dogfight.”
The Nets had lost five straight games before beating the Pistons in overtime on Saturday, but remain hopeful of what they can accomplish when they are back to full health — not to mention getting Durant back next season. Irving has missed 27 games because of injuries — first his shoulder, then his hamstring — but remains a threat unlike any player the Knicks have.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have leaned heavily on the veteran free agents they signed last summer after missing out on Irving and Durant. They could be on the move by the Feb. 6 trade deadline, opening more minutes for their younger players, most of whom have taken steps back this season.
But first, there is Sunday, and a chance for the Knicks to finally break their recent trend of coming up just short.
“[The Nets are] just like every other team in the East in the lower bracket,” Gibson said. “A lot of teams are really struggling, a lot of teams are really just trying to get over the hump. But still, everybody’s a talented NBA player. Confidence is key. We’re trying to go out there and try to fight hard and try to get a win. I feel like we’ve been knocking on the door as of late, playing some talented teams. Next step is to try to push through that door and get a win.”
— additional reporting by Brian Lewis