Kyrie Irving scored 36 points in his return to Brooklyn as the Dallas Mavericks took control in the second quarter, survived the fourth, and earned a 119-107 win over the Nets.
On the one-year anniversary of Irving being traded by the Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith after a controversial tenure in Brooklyn, Irving did not get the same video highlights as former Nets star Kevin Durant received last week. Instead, Irving got a "welcome back" message on the scoreboard in pregame introductions, along with former Nets Seth Curry and Markieff Morris.
Irving scored 21 points by half-time to help the Mavericks open up a 65-47 lead and hit two three-pointers in the final five minutes of the game to thwart Brooklyn's comeback.
Luka Doncic added 35 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists for the Mavericks while Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 28 points.
