Kevin Durant scored 33 factors and Kyrie Irving turned it on late within the sport because the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 108-102 on Friday.
The Nets, who had seen their 12-game NBA successful streak finish at Chicago on Wednesday, trailed 64-53 at half-time however received a grip on the competition within the third quarter.
Durant additionally grabbed 10 rebounds, the 111th time in his profession he has mixed 30-plus factors with double-figure rebounds.
The Pelicans had been with out their two star performers with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each nonetheless sidelined with accidents, however they delivered an aggressive efficiency in what was an intense encounter.
New Orleans made a powerful begin, taking a 10-point lead within the first quarter after a advantageous three-pointer from Naji Marshall they usually then began the second quarter with a 13-1 run.
However the Nets grew into the sport and outscored the Pelicans 35-21 within the third quarter and Irving, who scored 19 factors, made a 30-foot three-point jumper with 43 seconds remaining to make it 106-100 earlier than placing away two free throws to safe the win.
“It was a story of two halves, regardless that we didn’t get our photographs to fireplace early on, or all through the entire sport, we simply stored on pushing, it was a strong win for us,” mentioned Durant.
Brooklyn enhance to 26-13 whereas the Pelicans are 24-15 after their fifth loss on residence court docket this season.
The Charlotte Hornets equalled the NBA file for essentially the most level within the opening quarter of sport once they put up 51 in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The haul matched the file set by the Golden State Warriors in opposition to the Denver Nuggets in 2019.
The Hornets, backside of the standings within the East, ran out 138-109 winners in opposition to the second-placed Bucks.
Terry Rozier had a season-high 39 factors for the Hornets whereas the usually free-scoring Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was averaging 32.7 factors per sport, was restricted to only 9.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned he was involved about some widespread threads in a number of of their defeats this season.
“We haven’t matched what it takes to be aggressive in an NBA sport on a number of events now and it’s regarding,” he mentioned.
The Los Angeles Lakers have their first four-game successful streak of the season due to a 130-114 victory residence victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
LeBron James scored 25 factors, pulled down seven rebounds and handed out 10 assists.
Kendrick Nunn added 23 factors off the bench and Dennis Schroder scored 21 for the Lakers, who’re nonetheless with out injured star Anthony Davis.
In Denver, Nikola Jokic put collectively his league-leading tenth triple-double of the season, scoring 28 factors with 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Western Convention-leading Nuggets have received 9 of their final 10 video games.
Caris LeVert scored 22 factors and Darius Garland added 21 for Cleveland, however with star Donovan Mitchell sitting out the Cavs noticed their three-game successful streak finish.
LaVine leads Bulls
The Philadelphia 76ers’ streak of 11 straight residence wins got here to an finish with a 126-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls, who had been powered by the three-point capturing of Zach LaVine.
LaVine made 11 of 13 three-pointers and scored 41 factors whereas Nikola Vucevic had a 19-point, 18-rebound, 10-assist, triple-double.
The 76ers had been with out key man Joel Embiid, who missed his second consecutive sport with a sore left foot as their 12-game successful streak in opposition to the Bulls ended.
The New York Knicks received their fourth straight sport with a 112-108 win on the Toronto Raptors with Julius Randle producing 32 factors and 11 rebounds.
“He’s enjoying very well, he’s enjoying with confidence,” Knicks level guard Jalen Brunson mentioned. “It’s superior to see how he bounced again. He nonetheless has much more to show. Not simply to everybody else, however to himself as a result of has a complete different stage he can unleash.”
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