NBA roundup: Kyrie masterclass snaps Nets skid, Bucks trample all over OKC Thunder
Charlotte, North Carolina - Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 50 points to help snap the Brooklyn Nets' four-game losing run with a 132-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
Kevin Durant took a backseat to Irving's "masterclass", as the Nets point guard hit nine three-pointers, shooting at 79% from the floor, making 15-of-19.
Irving scored 30 points in the second half, with his Nets teammates contributing 33, helping them claim their fourth win from their past 21 games.
The 29-year-old became one of 22 players in NBA history with five 50-point games, along with becoming the second guard – behind Michael Jordan – in NBA history to have multiple 50-point games while shooting 75% or better from the floor.
Durant added 14 points with three rebounds and seven assists while Andre Drummond had 20 points with 14 rebounds.
Around the league
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 39 points, shooting 13-of-19 including four-of-four from beyond the arc, as the Milwaukee Bucks crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 142-115 for their fifth straight win. Khris Middleton added 25 points while Bobby Portis had 18 points with 14 rebounds.
Devin Booker was still out but the Phoenix Suns triumphed after a late Mikal Bridges block in a 102-99 win over the Orlando Magic. Deandre Ayton had 21 points with 19 rebounds for the Suns.
Ja Morant scored 24 points with eight rebounds and eight assists as the Memphis Grizzlies downed the New Orleans Pelicans 132-111, while Darius Garland became the fourth player in Cleveland Cavaliers history with 40 points and 10 assists in a game (41 and 13) as they won 127-124 over the Indiana Pacers.
The Golden State Warriors' splash brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, only managed a combined three-of-15 from beyond the arc but they snapped their five-game skid with a 112-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The home team also had the pleasure of warming up with Will Ferrell, who appeared on court wearing the Flint Tropics uniform from his 2008 movie Semi-Pro.
Curry and Thompson finished with 15 and 20 points respectively, while Reggie Jackson struggled with two-of-14 shooting for the Clippers.
Cover photo: IMAGO / UPI Photo