IRVING SOLID IN ROAD DEBUT TO PACE NETS
Kyrie Irving scored 22 points and sparked Brooklyn to a big rally in the second half of his season debut, Kevin Durant had 39 and the Nets beat the host Indiana Pacers 129-121 on Wednesday night.
Irving is ineligible to play home games because he is not vaccinated as mandated in New York City, and the Nets had decided against allowing him to just play road games for most of the season.
But they changed their mind last month and were glad they did Wednesday, when Irving helped them charge back from a 19-point deficit. The point guard played 32 minutes as Brooklyn snapped a threegame losing streak.
“He looks like himself, not that that’s a surprise,” Nets coach Steve Nash said.
Durant said it was amazing to see Irving out on the floor again.
“He didn’t act nervous, he has a nice poker face,” Durant said.
Irving said he was nervous, adding it was different than any previous debut in his basketball career.
“This meant a little more, taking eight months off and so much uncertainty,“he said “I settled down closer to the second
Nets 129, Pacers 121
half. Whatever the team (needs), I’ll do.”
Domantas Sabonis had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the Pacers, who have lost in six in a row.
Mavericks 99, Warriors 82: Luka Doncic scored 26 points and Dallas celebrated before a ceremony to retire Dirk Nowitzki’s number by beating coldshooting Stephen Curry and visiting Golden State. Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points for Golden State.
Hornets 140, Pistons 111: Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a career-high nine of Charlotte’s franchise-record 24 3-pointers and the host Hornets routed Detroit. Oubre scored 32 and had eight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, tying an NBA record set by Milwaukee’s Michael Redd in 2002.
Spurs 99, Celtics 97: Gregg Popovich became the first to coach 2,000 NBA games with one team, and Dejounte Murray scored 22 points to lead visiting San Antonio past Boston.
76ers 116, Magic 106: Joel Embiid scored 31 points, Tobias Harris added 22 and Philadelphia beat host Orlando. Cole Anthony led the Magic with 26 points.
Raptors 117, Bucks 111: Pascal Siakam scored 33 points as visiting Toronto beat short-handed Milwaukee. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 25 points.
Rockets 114: Wizards 111: Kevin Porter Jr. hit a 3pointer with 0.4 seconds left to lift Houston past host Washington.
Timber wolves 98, Thunder 90: Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 16 rebounds for Minnesota in a victory over visiting Oklahoma City.
Hawks 108, Kings 102: Kevin Huerter had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead Atlanta to victory over host Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 30 points on 12 of 23 shooting.
Heat 115, Trail Blazers 109: Miami took an 11-point halftime lead, but the visiting Heat held off Portland. Max Strus led six Miami players in double figures with 25. Anfernee Simons had 26 to pace Portland.
Jazz 115, Nuggets 109: Bojan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 36 points with 13 rebounds in a victory over the host Nuggets. Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 21 rebounds for Denver.
Notable
Mike Budenholzer entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and Giannis Antetokounpo was sidelined with an illness unrelated to COVID-19, leaving the Milwaukee Bucks without their coach and star player Wednesday.
Portland guard Damian Lillard will miss three games because of lower abdominal tendinopathy.