NBA roundup: Kyrie Irving erupts for career-high 60 in Nets’ win
March 16, 2022
Kyrie Irving scored 41 of his career-high 60 points during Brooklyn’s record-setting first half, leading the Nets to a 150-108 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Tuesday night for their fourth consecutive win.
Irving’s first-ever 60-point game, breaking his previous career-high of 57 against San Antonio in 2015, featured 20 made field goals on 31 attempts. He also went 8-for-12 from beyond the arc and 12-for-13 at the foul line en route to his sixth career performance with 50-plus points.
Kevin Durant, coming off a 53-point performance against the New York Knicks on Sunday, had 19 points and seven assists in the Nets’ wire-to-wire victory. Irving’s final three points came on a triple off the left wing with 8:32 left, sending him to the bench for the remainder of the game, while Brooklyn put seven total players in double figures.
Brooklyn led 86-56 at halftime — a franchise record for points in a half — on the strength of a 48-point first quarter during which Irving had 16 points and the Nets shot 74.1 percent (20-for-27).
Orlando, which lost three of four games to Brooklyn this season, was led by Cole Anthony’s 19 points and seven assists. Wendell Carter Jr. posted 18 points and seven rebounds, Moe Wagner had 17 points and Franz Wagner scored 16 points.
Grizzlies 135, Pacers 102
Desmond Bane scored 21 points to lead a balanced attack as Memphis cruised to a fourth straight win, blowing out Indiana in Indianapolis.
Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 19 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 43 points despite playing without star guard Ja Morant (back soreness). De’Anthony Melton added 18 points while Steven Adams had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.
Jalen Smith led the Pacers with 15 points. Buddy Hield and Terry Taylor scored 14 apiece. Malcolm Brogdon returned from a two-game absence caused by a concussion and had 12 points and five assists.
Heat 105, Pistons 98
Tyler Herro scored 29 points off the bench, Max Strus tallied all 16 points in the fourth quarter and host Miami downed Detroit.
Bam Adebayo supplied 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Miami and Duncan Robinson tossed in 12 points. The Heat outscored the Pistons 37-25 in the fourth quarter and 35-14 at the free throw line.
Jerami Grant scored 22 points to lead the Pistons, who have lost four straight. Isaiah Livers had 16 points and six rebounds.
Suns 131, Pelicans 115
Devin Booker scored 27 points and helped lead a barrage of 3-pointers as visiting Phoenix defeated New Orleans.
Booker made 4 of 9 3-point attempts and Mikal Bridges hit 4 of 5 while scoring 20 points for the Suns, who finished 18 of 34 from beyond the arc. Phoenix scored more than 30 points in each quarter.
Herbert Jones scored 22 points to lead New Orleans, which lost for the fifth time in six games.
–Field Level Media