The Brooklyn Nets edged out an undermanned Orlando Magic outfit at home 109-102 to get back to .500 at 11-11 behind a season-high 45-point masterclass from Kevin Durant on Tuesday (all times AEDT).
Durant shot a hyper efficient 19-of-24 from the field (79 per cent) and added seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in a dominant performance from the superstar forward.
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The Nets were up by one at halftime, and Durant erupted in the third quarter, scoring 19 points, blocking two shots and coming up with a steal in the period as the Nets seized control.
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Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving scored 20 points for Brooklyn and Nic Claxton added 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. The Magic, who were without Wendell Carter Jr, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, Terrence Ross, Mo Bamba, Chuma Okeke and Jonathan Isaac – having lost an NBA-high 113 games to injury/illness this season – fought admirably all game as Paolo Banchero and Bol Bol (both 24 points) starred. Whenever it seemed like the Nets were going to run away with it in the fourth, Orlando came right back. But it was ultimately an impressive win from a Nets team that may have folded under such pressure earlier this season to claim their fifth win from their last seven games. “This was an impressive game for the Brooklyn Nets – one not those ugly games you’ve got to win off a back-to-back against a young team,” former NBA player Richard Jefferson said on the YES Network. “This was a gutsy one and a win maybe earlier this season the Nets weren’t able to accomplish. “Even have Ben Simmons going out at half-time, so a couple of things stacked against you. “But ultimately this is the type of win the Brooklyn Nets can build on, especially 2-0 already on this seven-game home stand.” -Originally published in The New York Post by Brian Lewis PELICANS EDGE THUNDER IN AUSSIES’ FIRST SHOWDOWN The New Orleans Pelicans outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder at home 105-101 in an epic duel that went down to the wire. Zion Williamson led the way for the Pelicans, who were without Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, posting 23 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three blocks, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander amassed 31 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Thunder. It came in the first showdown between Aussies Josh Giddey (seven points, five rebounds, one steal) and Dyson Daniels (eight points, two triples), five rebounds, two assists, two steals), who got an extended run with Ingram and McCollum out. The Pelicans got out to an early 34-26 lead, but OKC stayed in striking distance all contest long as both teams went blow for blow. Zion Williamson’s basket with 3:54 left in the third extended New Orleans’ lead to 75-62 and it looked like the hosts might run away with it, but responded down the stretch to keep the Thunder alive. OKC kept coming in the fourth, with Dort’s two-pointer cutting its deficit to just 94-95. Gilgeous-Alexander made four-straight free throws late to give the Thunder a rare 98-97 lead, and after Trey Murphy responded with a triple, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl came right back at the other end with his own three. It led to a tense and wild final minute, where Williamson made and-one bucket and converted the free throw to put the Pelicans back up 103-101. Gilgeous-Alexander had a chance to even the scores or put the Thunder ahead on the final possession, but gave away an offensive charge, while Herb Jones made a pair of free throws to ice the win for New Orleans. The result saw the Pelicans improve to 12-8 and climb into the West’s third seed, while OKC fell to 8-13. ELSEWHERE … While the league-leading Boston Celtics romped again, leading wire-to-wire in a 140-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, the Philadelphia 76ers erased a 16-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Hawks 104-101 in star centre Joel Embiid’s return from injury. It was business as usual in Boston, where Jayson Tatum returned from a one-game absence to score 35 points and sat out the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. Jaylen Brown, who had carried the load in Tatum’s absence in a blowout victory over Washington on Monday, had his turn to rest, sitting out with a sore neck. It didn’t matter at all as the Celtics knocked down 24 three-pointers and kept their offence clicking with 40 assists. The Hornets, missing Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward, simply had no answer for a Celtics team that has won 13 of their last 14 games. Ingram limps off in loss to Grizzlies | 01:05 In Philadelphia, Embiid started slow in his return from a four-game absence with a sprained left foot. He connected on just one of his first seven shots, but finished nine-of-18 from the floor, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out seven assists, while chants of “MVP! MVP!” rang out as he made the final free throw to seal the win. Embiid’s fadeaway jump shot had given the 76ers a 101-100 lead with 18.6 seconds to play. Seconds later he picked off a pass from Atlanta’s Trae Young, then made two free throws to stretch Philadelphia’s lead. Embiid, who was hurt when teammate Georges Niang fell on him during a game, said he felt good after playing 35 minutes on Tuesday. “I thought it (the injury) was going to be really bad,” he said. “So I’m just excited to come back in such a short amount of time.” Wizards centre Kristaps Porzingis had a big night in Washington, scoring a career-high 41 points — 29 of them in the first half — in a 142-127 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even worse for the T-Wolves, star Karl-Anthony Towns had to be helped off the court in the third quarter with what the team said was a right calf strain. Towns was running up the court when he suddenly grabbed his leg and fell. He was eventually helped to the locker room by teammate Rudy Gobert and a team trainer. ALL RESULTS HAWKS 101 SIXERS 104 TIMBERWOLVES 127 WIZARDS 142 HORNETS 105 CELTICS 140 MAGIC 102 NETS 109 CAVALIERS 88 RAPTORS 100 THUNDER 101 PELICANS 105 ROCKETS 113 NUGGETS 129 BULLS 114 JAZZ 107 SUNS – KINGS PACERS – LAKERS
