Kyrie Irving played in his first home game of the season after New York City expanded its Covid-19 vaccine exemption

By Jacob Lev and Kelly McCleary, CNN

Updated 0611 GMT (1411 HKT) March 28, 2022

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving played in his first home game of the season Sunday after New York expanded exemptions to its Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

(CNN)Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving made his first appearance of the season on the team's home court Sunday after being sidelined by a Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

Irving racked up 16 points and 11 assists in the Nets' 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the Barclays Center.His return to the hardwood in Brooklyn came after New York Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday he would allow New York-based professional athletes and performers to be exempt from the city's vaccine mandate for workers. NYC expanding vaccine exemption to city-based entertainers, clearing Kyrie Irving and unvaccinated Yankees and Mets to play at homeThe policy kept Irving, a seven-time All-Star guard who chose not to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, from playing in 35 home games the Nets have played since the NBA season began in October. He has been playing with the team on the road.«I don't take it for granted what happened tonight. It was historic and I'm grateful that I got a chance to be out there with my brothers and just leave it all out there,» Irving said after the game.Read MoreIrving has been able to attend games at the Barclays Center as a spectator, but his presence in the home locker room at a game earlier this month saw the Nets hit with a $50,000 fine for «violating local New York City law and league health and safety protocols.»The Nets have seven remaining games in the NBA regular season, five of which will be played at the Barclays Center. The team's next home game is Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons. Adams