Irving scores 32, makes up for Harden, Durant absence
Kyrie Irving capped a 32-point performance with a tough turnaround jumper, a driving layup through converging defenders and four free throws in the final minute, and the Brooklyn Nets held on for a 134-129 victory over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.
Joe Harris also hit a pair of late free throws to cap his 24-point night for the Nets, who won despite being without both Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Brooklyn coach Steve Nash twice commanded the Nets to foul Pelicans ball-handlers coming across halfcourt in the final seconds rather than allow New Orleans to set up potential game-tying 3-point shots.
It ultimately worked. Williamson scored 33 points. Brandon Ingram added 27 points for the Pelicans.
HAWKS 112, MAGIC 96 >> Trae Young scored 25 points, Lou Williams added 22 in his best game since returning to Atlanta and the surging Hawks pulled away in the final period for a victory over the Orlando Magic.
The Hawks began the day clinging to the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, which would mean home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Atlanta won for the fifth time in six games to move a step closer to locking up its first postseason berth since 2017.
KNICKS 109, HORNETS 97 >> RJ Barrett scored 18 of his 24 points in the third quarter and the New York Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets for their seventh straight victory.
Barrett’s offense and the Knicks’ defense changed the game after the Hornets scored 66 points in the first half. New York held Charlotte to just 31 after halftime.
Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley each scored 17 points off the bench for the Knicks. who moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They are on their longest winning streak since 2013.
P.J. Washington scored 26 points and Terry Rozier had 21 for the Hornets. NETS’ HARDEN OUT INDEFINITELY WITH HAMSTRING ISSUE >> James Harden has had a setback with his hamstring injury and will be sidelined “indefinitely,” the club announced on Tuesday evening.
“Back to square one,” Nets coach Steve Nash. “We’ll rehabilitate him and get him back whenever we can. Who knows when that’ll be, but we’ll support James and we’ll support our performance team in getting him back in his best condition as possible, and hopefully that comes sooner than later. But there’s no guarantee. So, we just keep chipping away. We keep moving forward and we hope for a speedy recovery.”
Harden, who was acquired by Brooklyn in January in a trade with Houston, is averaging 25.2 points 10.9 assists and eight rebounds per game. He has not played since April 5 and was ruled out for a seventh straight game on Tuesday night in New Orleans.
THUNDER LOSE ARENA SPONSOR >> The Oklahoma City Thunder said Tuesday that Chesapeake Energy Corp. has terminated its arena naming rights agreement.
The move was effective immediately, though the team said the name will remain until a new partner is found.