Kyrie Irving Sends Friendly Warning to Kevin Durant Ahead of Mavericks vs Suns Clash

• Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant face off for the first time since leaving the Brooklyn Nets
• The two requested trades before the Feb 9 deadline and were subsequently moved to the Western Conference
• Irving's Dallas and Durant's Phoenix clash in a mouth-watering game on Sunday
• Irving has sent a friendly warning to Durant ahead of the matchup

Weeks after leaving the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving face each other on Sunday in a mouth-watering showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns.

Irving requested a trade from the Nets days before the trade deadline, then Durant followed suit days later. They were both moved in blockbuster trades before the February 9th trade deadline.

Irving's spell with the Mavericks started well but went downhill for a few games. However, Irving and Doncic delivered their first big win together, an important 133-126 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Irving dropped 40 points, while Doncic scored 42, per ESPN.

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Meanwhile, Durant had to wait a little longer for his debut. He's only played only one game for the Suns. He was recovering from an MCL sustained earlier this year while playing for the Nets.

The veteran forward scored 23 points in 27 minutes.

The meeting will not only have the Durant and Irving storyline but will also see the two teams revisit last year's epic Game 7 in the Western Conference semis.

Irving on showdown with Durant

Irving and Doncic know how important Sunday's game is. Dallas are 6th in the Western Conference with a 33-31 record and can't afford more slip-ups. The Suns are fourth with a 34-29 record.

The 30-year-old guard is looking forward to the clash

“Playing against the new-look Suns with KD may be an exciting time just for us to compete against each other,” Kyrie said. “That’s my brother for life, but when we’re stepping out there, I’m looking forward to the competition. Friendly competition,” via Clutchpoints.

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Irving and Durant signed for the Nets in 2019 but ended up playing together for just 74 games.

Their partnership in Brooklyn brought hefty expectations from fans, but they ended up winning just one playoff series together alongside James Harden.

Furthermore, Irving stole the headlines several times during his spell in Brooklyn. he was suspended earlier this season for eight games for sharing a movie with anti-Semitic themes, per the Athletic.

He played only 29 games last season because of his vaccination stance.

Durant explains Big 3 failure

Sports Brief recently reported on Kevin Durant getting emotional while discussing his stint with Brooklyn.

He spoke about his time with the Nets and why the Big 3 failed to deliver the results so many were expecting.

He said they needed more time on the court, with Durant, Irving, and James Harden playing 16 games together.