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Kyrie Irving has struggled badly in a tumultuous day for the Brooklyn Nets.
Meanwhile Josh Giddey hasn’t missed a beat in his return from an ankle injury.
Catch up on all of the day’s action in our NBA Wrap!
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Wed, 02 Nov
Wednesday November 2nd
Lakers finally win first game of season | 01:29
SEE ALSO
‘PAST BEING A JOKE’: Nets’ idiots and fools blasted as NBA reacts to ‘dumpster fire’
NETS AXE COACH: Nash gone amid chaos – and the man who’ll take over only adds more fuel to fire
IRVING STRUGGLES BADLY AS NETS FALL TO 2-6
Kyrie Irving went scoreless through three quarters amid a tumultuous day for the Brooklyn Nets after parting ways with coach Steve Nash as they fell to the Chicago Bulls 99-108.
Irving ended up with four points – his fewest ever for the Nets – on 2-of-12 shooting from the field with six rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes of action on Wednesday (all times AEDT) in a forgettable performance.
The star guard, who’s averaged 30 points per game this season, even didn’t finish the first half on the court due to the other Nets playing well.
“That is just 100 per cent stress. Sports are hard to play and when you are under stress it affects your game,” NBA legend Charles Barkley said on NBA TNT at half-time.
“Everyone is looking about you and talking about you .. you can tell because he’s not being aggressive.”
Asked if Irving was distracted by the day’s events, Nets interim coach Jacque Vaughn said: “I told the guys there‘s no excuses. Whether it’s back to back, no excuses. Whether the changing scenery scenery of today, no excuses. This is what we do for a living, what we signed up for. It was game day so we gotta bring it”
Irving have been scrutinised in the fallout of Nash’s departure as the team’s 2-5 start has been marred by off-court drama including the star guard’s social media promotion of an anti anti-Semitic film.
On Sunday, Irving took issue with a reporter who suggested the star guard was promoting the movie during a heated press conference.
Barkley said prior to the Nets’ clash with Chicago he believes the NBA should’ve suspended Irving, while fellow league great Shaquille O‘Neal labelled Irving an “idiot.”
“I think he should have been suspended … I think the NBA made a mistake,” Barkley said.
“We have suspended & fined people for making homophobic slurs, and that was the right thing to do, like if you insult the black community, you get suspended.”
Chicago’s Zach LaVine exploded with 20 of his 29 points in the fourth where the Bulls outscored the Nets 31-19 to rally home for the win.
Durant topscored with 32 points for Brooklyn and Royce O’Neale matched his career-high 20.
The Nets fell to 2-6 to continue their disastrous start to the season, whole Ben Simmons was missing in action due to a knee issue.
GIDDEY LIGHTS UP IN RETURN
Josh Giddey hasn’t missed a beat in his return from a three-game absence due to a an ankle injury.
The Aussie has five points and six assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder trail the Olando Magic 63-66.
He was up to all his usual tricks including attacking the rim more aggressively and setting up his teammates with nice passing.
Through three games, Giddey has averaged 14.3 points, 1.3 triples, 8.3 rebounds, five assists and one block.
ALL RESULTS
BULLS 108 NETS 99
WARRIORS 109 HEAT 116
MAGIC – THUNDER
TIMBERWOLVES – SUNS
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