MANILA – Kylie Irving and Kevin Durant carried the cudgels for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday to prevail against the Phoenix Suns, 128-119, during their basketball game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Irving waxed hot and dropped 34 points to go along with 12 assists, and six rebounds. Durant, on the other hand, returned from a thigh injury to score 33 points as the Nets tightened its grip on top of the Eastern Conference standings with a 41-19 win-loss slate.
Blake Griffin fired 16 points while Jeff Green and Joe Harris had 10 points each for the Nets, which were without James Harden and Spencer Dinwiddie due to injuries. Three others were also unable to play due to health and safety protocols.
Trailing at the half to the Suns, the Nets gained control of the play in the third period due to baskets from Irving, Durant, Harris, and Tyler Johnson to make a 97-92 advantage.
The Suns tried hard to come close at 95-102 but conversions from Griffin and Durant stretched the Nets’ lead further to reach its largest at 115-99 with over six minutes left.
Devin Booker finished with 36 points while DeAndre Ayton and Torrey Craig chipped in 20 markers apiece as the Suns went down to 42-18 still at second place in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Hornets (30-30) nailed its second consecutive win as they walloped Boston Celtics (32-29), 125-104, to stay at the eighth spot in the East.
The Hornets were in cruise control from start to finish with a double-digit edge at the end of each quarter and pulled away for good in the final frame against the gutsy Celtics.
Devonte Graham tallied 24 points, P.J. Washington chipped in double-double 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges gave 21 and 20 points, respectively, for the Hornets.
Memphis Grizzlies (31-28), on the other hand, recorded a 120-113 triumph over Portland Trail Blazers (32-28). Ja Morant fired 28 points to go along with eight rebounds for the Grizzlies.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 128 – Irving 34, Durant 33, Griffin 16, Green 10, Harris 10, T. Johnson 8, Jordan 6, Shamet 5, Brown 4, James 2.
PHOENIX 119 – Booker 36, Ayton 20, Craig 20, Paul 14, Johnson 9, Bridges 7, Kaminsky 5, Payne 5, Carter 3, Smith 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
27-32, 59-61, 97-92, 128-119./PN
