NBA basketball finds its way back to a Barclays Center that’s sorely missed it, with the Brooklyn Nets hosting the Pistons on a night not meant to show any dry eyes.
ESPN is back to covering Basketball to the best of its ability in what’s been a somber week in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s passing. Yet, as the NBA legend would’ve wanted, the work must be done and the comfortability must be sacrificed in order to find the greater good, so we as journalists have to get the ball rolling again in documenting this great game, fans still have to fill the seats of all 30 NBA stadiums, and grieve in the most helpful way – around like-minded fans of the game who only want to heal by watching four quarters of the game that Kobe Bean Bryant made them fall head over heels with.
So, for tonight’s game, Kyrie Irving is confirmed to suit up tonight against a 17-31 Pistons team, after his Nets lost to the Knicks on what felt like the most emotional day in the history of the entire Association. He made the decision just 20 minutes ago, to be precise, and though it will be hard, it’s difficult to think that the former All-Star and one-time champ tonight won’t play without having his mentor and good friend on his mind.
As it goes for basketball, the Nets are healthy and the Pistons are banged up since Derrick Rose and Matt Snell are questionable to play in Wednesday night’s matchup. But the Nets need this one, badly. They’re only three games ahead of the Bulls in holding on to the eighth spot in the East, so they have to string together some wins.
It’s the third game in a seven-game stretch against sub-.500 teams and the Nets barely beat the Pistons in an overtime win last time on Saturday, then lost to the Knicks Sunday. After Wednesday, it’s the Bulls, Wizards, Suns and Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Pistons aren’t all that good either. They’re a whole 14 games under .500, they’ve lost three straight and have dropped nine of the last 14 overall. Duane Casey’s team isn’t doing all that hot, but behind the play of the returning Reggie Jackson (12.4 ppg. off 42.3 percent shooting) there is some hope of an offensive spark being lit in the Pistons’ backcourt.
Tonight’s game, again, will be broadcasted on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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