NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving had 26 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists to steer the Brooklyn Nets to a 121-104 victory Monday evening over the Los Angeles Lakers, who performed with out LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Irving had scored 30 or extra in a career-best six straight video games however didn’t have to hold as heavy a load with some good play from Brooklyn’s backup guards.
Patty Mills and Cam Thomas added 21 factors apiece for the Nets, who gained their second straight and are 4-6 since Kevin Durant sprained a ligament in his proper knee. They gained simply 5 instances in 21 video games final season when he sprained the opposite knee.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated James was experiencing “actually important soreness” in his left foot and can be evaluated Tuesday to see if he might play on the New York Knicks that evening.
James, who’s 117 factors shy of passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s profession scoring file, sat on the finish of the Lakers bench. He hasn’t performed at Madison Sq. Backyard in three years.
It was a deliberate day without work for Davis so he didn’t play each ends of a back-to-back after returning final week from a 20-game absence because of a proper foot harm,
Thomas Bryant had 18 factors and 9 rebounds for the Lakers, whereas Russell Westbrook completed with 17 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
The Lakers trailed by 12 at halftime however opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run for a 60-58 lead. Irving lastly obtained the Nets going, however the Lakers constructed a seven-point lead later within the interval after some sturdy work from Wenyen Gabriel, who scored 9 straight Los Angeles factors. Brooklyn recovered to shut the interval with a 10-0 spurt to seize an 85-82 lead.
Mills and Thomas made consecutive 3-pointers after the Lakers reduce it to 2 within the fourth, and Brooklyn would go on to steer by 14 earlier than placing this one away.
The Lakers missed 11 of their first 14 pictures and the Nets quickly led 19-6. Brooklyn prolonged it to 19 factors just a few instances within the second quarter however did not shut the half properly, permitting the Lakers to tug inside 58-46.
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The Lakers had been hoping to maneuver on after an infuriating loss in Boston, when referees acknowledged they missed James being fouled on his drive to the basket on the finish of regulation.
But it surely was clear early on they hadn’t absolutely left their frustrations behind. Patrick Beverley, who obtained a technical foul in extra time Saturday, obtained one other one within the first quarter Monday when he was known as for a foul on Irving’s 3-point try. Referee Ben Taylor then walked away from Beverley to the opposite facet of the courtroom to keep away from having to name one other one and situation an ejection.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Westbrook handed Corridor of Famer Gary Payton to maneuver into tenth place on the NBA’s profession assists listing. … With James and Davis out, Rui Hachimura made his first begin for Los Angeles and scored 16 factors. It was his third sport with the Lakers since being acquired from Washington.
Nets: Brooklyn was additionally short-handed, as Ben Simmons missed his second straight sport with left knee soreness. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn stated the hope is Simmons can return Wednesday. … Day’Ron Sharpe grabbed 14 rebounds and Nic Claxton had 12.
UP NEXT
Lakers: On the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
Nets: At Boston on Wednesday.
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