NEW YORK — With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons all sitting out Monday’s marquee matchup between the Nets and Lakers, Kyrie Irving and Patrick Beverley — two masters of their respective crafts — stole the show at Barclays Center.
Irving scored a game-high 26 points in the Nets’ victory, but only two of his seven made shots came with Beverley as his primary defender.
Irving shot 2 of 8 from the field when defended by Beverley versus 5 of 8 against any other Lakers defender.
