2 min read • March 06, 2022
Posted in
For just the 3rd time this season and the 1st time since Jan. 10, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will play together for the Brooklyn Nets (SIC Score 90.2).
Durant scored 31 points in 35 minutes in a losing effort in his return on Thursday, and his only teammates to score in double figures were Bruce Brown with 21 and Patty Mills with 14. Durant had no minutes restrictions and appeared to not miss a beat after 6 weeks of recovery from a sprained left MCL on January 15.
Irving scored 38 points on 26 shots with 5 assists in a shocking 3-point win over the Bucks the last time he took the court, but that win only brought the Nets record with him on the floor to 5-10.
Irving will hopefully free up new Nets G Seth Curry and veteran pick up Goran Dragic to score off-ball more efficiently.
32-32 Brooklyn will play without Ben Simmons and Joe Harris, while Curry is listed as probable with left ankle soreness. Since joining the Nets, Curry is averaging 16.6 points on .472/.444/.818 splits with 3.9 assists.
The Celtics (SIC Score 84.1) continue to be one of the hottest teams in the NBA after wins over the Hawks and Grizzlies while withstanding outstanding performances from all-stars Ja Morant and Trae Young.
According to ESPN’s Kirk Goldsberry, Boston has the top net rating in the last 15 games, powered by the top defense over that time.
Star shooting guard Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain that he suffered against the Hawks. The injury held him out of the final 3-and-a-half quarters against Atlanta and the entire Memphis game.
Wing Aaron Nesmith, who stared the Celtics' last game in place of Brown, is out with a right ankle sprain of his own.
Versatile forward Grant Williams has been one of many Bostonians on a hyper-efficient tear recently, averaging 11.2 points and 4 rebounds on 71.5% true shooting in 30 minutes since the All-Star break, and will likely take a bigger role if Brown does not play.
Brooklyn holds the health advantage come Sunday with Brown likely out another game:
Brooklyn Nets ML - the Nets go into the game the healthier squad, have every opportunity to win game outright with Durant and Irving both playing together
Kyrie Irving O23.5 Points - Irving will play due to it being an away game, has played in just 15 games this year going over this prop 10 times, 4 games straight with 27+ points
Written by
