LOS ANGELES, United States —
Kyrie Irving erupted for
50 points as the Brooklyn Nets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 132–121
road victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
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The fifth 50-point game of Irving's career came courtesy of
a superb shooting performance, with the seven-time All-Star shooting 15 of 19
attempts from the field including nine from outside the arc.
The
Nets improved to 33–33 with the victory, which keeps them
firmly on track for a place in the postseason play-in tournament.
Brooklyn are eighth in the
Eastern Conference standings,
just ahead of the Hornets in ninth.
Irving was backed by
Andre Drummond, who scored 20 points
and hauled in 14 rebounds, while Kevin Durant and Bruce Brown both had 14
points apiece.
"It was special all the way around," Irving said
afterwards.
"We started off the game with a great resolve, a great
game plan and we just played aggressive the whole game.
"That's what feels good — you really want to put your
stamp on the game early and that’s what we did tonight.”
"We needed it. We need everybody. It's a total team
effort. It's not about one individual. Great performance but it's about the
team and us getting collectively better."
Nets coach
Steve Nash took encouragement from the
performance.
"We showed the level we can play at when we play
extremely hard and play connected," said Nash, who reserved praise for
Irving’s 50-point masterclass.
'A special player'
"He's incredible. It's a career highlight reel every
night. We obviously have a special player on our hands and tonight he was
unbelievably efficient and difficult to defend," Nash said.
The Nets now face a showdown with the
Philadelphia 76ers on
Thursday, marking a reunion with James Harden — traded away from the Nets in
January.
"It will be a different feeling to play against him
this soon after the trade, but it will be an exciting night for everyone to be
part of," Nash said.
Elsewhere on Tuesday,
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 39 points
as the Milwaukee Bucks thumped the hapless Oklahoma City Thunder 142-115 to
notch a fifth straight win.
Khris Middleton added 25 points while Bobby Portis finished
with 18 points and 14 rebounds in a romp for the Bucks, who remain third in the
Eastern Conference.
In Indianapolis, Cleveland maintained their playoff drive
with a 127–124 win over the Pacers courtesy of a career-high 41-point display
from
Darius Garland.
Garland also contributed 13 assists and five rebounds as all
five members of the Cavs starting line-up cracked double figures.
The Cavaliers are sixth in the Eastern Conference table on
38-27, with a comfortable four-win advantage over the seventh-placed Toronto
Raptors, who are just outside the playoffs spots in seventh.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers scoring with 25 points.
In Orlando meanwhile, the
Phoenix Suns bounced back from
Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks with a 102-99 defeat of the Magic.
With the Suns still without the injured Chris Paul and Devin
Booker (health protocols), it was left to Deandre Ayton to step up for Phoenix.
Ayton finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds while
Landry Shamet also posted 21.
In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors finally snapped
their five-game losing streak with a 112–97 defeat of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Klay Thompson scored 20 points and
Stephen Curry added 15
while Jonathan Kuminga delivered 20 off the bench for the Warriors, who
improved to 44-22 with the victory.
The Warriors are third in the Western Conference, while the Clippers
remain in eighth place.
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