Three Things to Know: Irving makes home debut but loss to Hornets drops Nets to 9th

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Kyrie Irving is playing in Barclays Center again.

That was not enough to help the Nets on Sunday — they watched LaMelo Ball put up 33 and 7, leading the Hornets to a win that moved them in front of the Nets to No. 8 in the East — and it’s fair to ask how much Irving can help Brooklyn come the playoffs.

None of that mattered to Brooklyn fans, who welcomed Irving with a standing ovation.

Irving missed home games up until this point because he refused to get vaccinated. He can play now because New York Mayor Eric Adams put an athletes and performers exception into the employer vaccine mandate. Irving happily jumped through that loophole and after the game said he stood for “freedom” called for an end to all mandates. The one that kept him out and has led to more than 1,400 New York City employees being fired is still in place, mostly because many large New York employers want it in place. But Irving got his exemption, so he’s back.

The Nets are unquestionably more dangerous with Irving back, and they have five of their remaining seven games at home.

With Irving, the Nets are banking on an overwhelming offense to cover up an underwhelming defense (24th in the league his season, using Cleaning the Glass’ numbers), but that was not the case Sunday against the Hornets. Brooklyn was on the second night of a back-to-back, and like many older teams, they struggle with tired legs. The Nets are now 2-10 this season on the second night of a back-to-back. Irving finished with 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting