This victory, snatched against Pelicans who did not let go, with an efficient Kyrie Irving who scored 32 points including 15 in a last quarter unbridled time (41-37 for the Nets in this last quarter), puts a little balm at heart to the New York team. The Nets must indeed deal with the injuries of two of their star players, absent: Kevin Durant hit in a thigh and James Harden who again suffers from the right thigh. Disturbing one month away from the play-offs. “We needed everyone to do their best tonight,” said Irving, who was still behind at halftime 59-57. Because opposite, the Pelicans were guided by a great Zion Williamson, not only the game's top scorer with 33 points but also skillful (14/19 on shots). Steve Nash paid tribute to Irving after this victory,which erases the cruel defeat at the end of the game in Miami on Sunday. “In the end, he got in some really tough shots. You take your hat off to your star player when he pulls off those kinds of shots, ”said the Nets coach. The coach then returned to the collective effort of his team. “When you have two superstars down, other players have to take more responsibility and play more. And if they don't play well, you end up at the bottom of the hole. Tonight, they played really well ”.“When you have two superstars down, other players have to take more responsibility and play more. And if they don't play well, you end up at the bottom of the hole. Tonight, they played really well ”.“When you have two superstars down, other players have to take more responsibility and play more. And if they don't play well, you end up at the bottom of the hole. Tonight, they played really well ”.
Another star stood out on Tuesday: Paul George, who scored 33 points for the Los Angeles Clippers, 3rd in the Western Conference, who went to beat the Trail Blazers (6th) in Portland 113-112. Paul George was decisive in the money-time, scoring the last six points for his team including two very valuable free throws 4.8 seconds from a breathtaking end to the game. CJ McCollum, the Blazers' leading scorer with 28 points, missed the victory basket on the buzzer, his ball bouncing off the circle.
The other New York team is running at full speed at the moment: the Knicks, who made the difference in the third quarter (31-16) before closing the door in the last where they left only 15 points to their opponent, signed their seventh straight victory, beating the Charlotte Hornets 109-97.
The Knicks are still 5th in the Eastern Conference, just behind the Atlanta Hawks, who dominated Orlando (112-96).
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