Kyrie Irving’s season-high 50 factors lead Brooklyn Nets previous Charlotte Hornets to snap skid

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyrie Irving‘s 50-point outburst throughout Tuesday night time’s 132-121 win over the Charlotte Hornets was so spectacular that Kevin Durant spent the primary few moments of his postgame information convention clapping for his teammate on the podium.

Durant referred to as Irving’s efficiency a “grasp class” and stated youthful gamers ought to watch it to learn the way he dealt with his enterprise on the ground.

“All the pieces he does is pure,” Durant stated after the sport. “It seemed really easy tonight. I search for, he had 10 factors and it felt like he solely took two pictures within the first quarter. And I advised Seth [Curry], I am like, ‘Rattling, I did not know he had it cookin’ like that.’ I seen it in his eyes to start out the sport. He needed to play higher final sport, so he got here out tonight and needed to impression the sport from the beginning. He led us all night time, hit huge pictures after we wanted to.

“It was simply an unbelievable, unbelievable efficiency. Youthful gamers, you must watch this sport and be taught what it takes to attain at that degree — at 5-10, 5-11, for him to attain that simple, that was only a grasp class.”

Irving began the sport in rhythm and saved pulling down pictures all night time, ending 15-for-19 from the sphere, together with 9-for-12 from 3-point vary, and 11-for-13 from the free throw line. With the Nets getting into the night time having misplaced 17 of their previous 20, Irving carried them to a much-needed win on an evening when Durant scored simply 14 factors.

“It felt like a must-win night time,” Irving stated. “I am not saying that the opposite nights did not really feel like that, however you simply acquired to enter that deep place the place you simply aren’t distracted by something that is happening and there is a objective at hand whenever you step on the market, and I simply get much less talkative and I take a look on my face the place I am simply able to go on the market and simply do what’s wanted for us to get this win.”

Irving’s offensive brilliance was on full show. He hit an array of pictures from all around the ground as his teammates continued to search for him and assist him get seems to be. Irving additionally chipped in six assists and two rebounds in 37 minutes of play. Many within the Charlotte crowd gave him a standing ovation after he drained a floater to deliver his complete to 50.

“He is unbelievable,” Nets coach Steve Nash stated. “It is a profession spotlight reel each night time. So we clearly have a particular participant on our palms, and tonight he was unbelievably environment friendly and troublesome to defend, and though we would wish to assume we had the sport in hand, there’s nonetheless possessions the place he sort of bailed us out. … He is simply an unbelievable participant, shot maker.”

Irving’s efficiency got here after he struggled in a loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, capturing 8-for-18 and turning over the ball 3 times. He stated he knew what number of factors he had as he drew nearer to the 50-point mark.

“As knowledgeable on this sport, I simply really feel like we’re put into positions the place we’ve got to reply,” Irving stated. “And clearly I did not play my finest sport in Boston. I used to be quoted the opposite [day] simply saying it was actually emotional and simply each time I step foot in [TD Garden] it simply is what it’s, I am human.

“So going again, I do know we’ll see Boston once more, however tonight we simply needed to have a recent begin, and I do know that me popping out taking part in aggressive, it sparks power in our workforce and it simply makes everybody else’s job lots simpler. It felt good tonight simply to do it within the circulate of the sport. It wasn’t actually compelled. I wasn’t making an attempt to go on the market and get 50. It simply ended up taking place.”

The Nets improved to 33-33, shifting a sport forward of the Hornets for the eighth spot within the Jap Convention. They get at some point off earlier than Thursday’s showdown with former teammate James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Following Thursday’s sport, Irving, who is just not vaccinated towards COVID-19, won’t be eligible to play once more till March 15 towards the Orlando Magic due to New York Metropolis’s vaccination mandate. The Nets play towards the New York Knicks in Madison Sq. Backyard on Sunday.

“Simply rattling particular,” Curry stated of Irving’s efficiency. “Simply creating performs all around the ground. Acquired off to an ideal begin, simply saved it rolling all through the sport. He did not pressure an excessive amount of. Knocked down catch-and-shoots, off the dribble, acquired to the free throw line, acquired to the rim.

“So we would have liked that Kyrie.”