Less than 24 hours after the 60 points scored by Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota), Kyrie Irving equaled this season record, during Brooklyn’s crushing victory in Orlando (150-108), Tuesday in the NBA where the leaders , Phoenix and Miami, won.
Maybe because he only has the right to play one match out of two, always prevented in New York because he has not been vaccinated, and that frustrates him as much as his team, who needs him in the last straight line before the play-offs, Irving said he was going to work hard in Florida.
The figures are dizzying, especially those of the first period, completed with 41 points in the bag, 14/19 shooting including 6/7 behind the arc.
He then eased off and once the 60 units reached (6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 interceptions) at the start of the last quarter, he joined the bench without asking to stay on the floor any longer, despite the “We want Kyrie!” (“We want Kyrie!”) chanted by the spectators.
“I felt good. When you put 60, without forcing, without too many bad shots, it also illustrates how much we get along on this team. We build confidence and we do the right things,” commented Irving, who attended Sunday, for the first time this season, a home game at Barclays Center, where Kevin Durant passed 53 points to the Knicks.
The latter, who was content to score 19 against the Magic, had then rekindled the debate on the health rules imposed by the city of New York, wanting that any employee cannot exercise his profession until he is not vaccinated. This leads to an ubiquitous situation since Irving can still be among the spectators in the room but cannot play on the floor.
Butler hit in an ankle
While waiting for a hypothetical lifting of this regulation, the rear took the opportunity to beat his personal best (57 pts) and that of the franchise, contributing to the 4th consecutive success of the Nets.
Still 8th in the East, they can still mathematically avoid the qualifying play-offs for the play-offs, even if Cleveland (6th) and Toronto (7th) still have a comfortable mattress to stay ahead of them.
At the top of the conference, remains Miami who whipped to overcome Detroit (105-98), losing en route Jimmy Butler, victim of a sprained right ankle in the first period.
The leader of the Heat was nevertheless well replaced by Max Strus, who scored all of his 16 points in the last quarter, contributing, with Tyler Herro (29 pts) author of a crucial long-distance shot at less than two minutes from time, at the big finish of the Floridians (37-25).
On the Pistons side (14th), note the encouraging match of Killian Hayes (9 pts, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 interception) off the bench.
Phoenix continues to impress
In the West, Phoenix, for the moment still the only team qualified for the play-offs, cemented its status as the No.1 seed a little more, by winning 131-115 in New Orleans ( 10th).
Devin Booker (27 pts) enlightened the very skilful Suns, who shot at 54.4% success, well helped by Mikal Bridges (20 pts), JaVale McGee (19 pts) and Deandre Ayton (18 pts).
Finally, even deprived of Ja Morant, suffering from the back, the Grizzlies made short work of the Pacers (135-102), to consolidate their second place.
Desmond Bane (21 pts, 6 assists) led a group of seven players to at least ten points.
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Kyrie Irving crashes 60 points and equals the points record this season (video)