Nets Rebound, Top Pistons as Durant and Irving Explode
NETS 130 – PISTONS 123 Kevin Durant scored a game high 41 points and Kyrie Irving added 27 points in his second home game of the season as the Nets…
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 08: (R-L) Kevin Durant #7 congratulates Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in the fourth quarter during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on March 08, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
NETS 130 - PISTONS 123
Kevin Durant scored a game high 41 points and Kyrie Irving added 27 points in his second home game of the season as the Nets edged out the Detroit Pistons 130-123 on Tuesday night in Brooklyn.
Irving, who struggled in his 2022 Barclays Center debut on Sunday, scoring only 16 points in a loss to Charlotte, was 7-of-18 from the floor, 4-of-8 from downtown and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. His 26-foot three pointer in the fourth quarter broke a 101-101 tie, gave the Nets a lead they would hold Cade Cunningham tied the game at 108.
Durant answered with a pull-up jumper and a pair of free-throws to put Brooklyn up 112-108 with 4;38 to go. Seth Curry also added a huge three pointer to put the Nets lead up to seven points. Curry finished with 11 points.
"I know their record isn't good, but they still have pros over there," Durant said of the Pistons. "They still made shots early and gained confidence as a team. This was a good test for us."
The victory puts Brooklyn at 40-36 on the season. With six games left on their schedule, the Nets are currently the Eastern Conference's eighth seed, and in a comfortable position to make at least the play-in game.
