NBA roundup: Kyrie Irving scores 36 in return to Brooklyn, teams with Doncic to lead Mavs past Nets
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 36 points in a dazzling return to Brooklyn exactly one year after he was traded to Dallas, leading the Mavericks to a 119-107 victory over the Nets on Tuesday night.
Luka Doncic had 35 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists as the Mavericks’ guard tandem took turns hitting some deep 3-pointers in the second half when the Nets were trying to make a run. Doncic quickly shed the mask he began the game with to protect a nasal contusion and just missed his 10th triple-double of the season.
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Irving was booed when he touched the ball in the early going, though he turned those to cheers after finishing one of his fancy drives for a reserve layup or hitting one of his six 3-pointers — and especially when he rose high to slam down a lob pass in the third quarter.
Irving, who is second to Vince Carter in Nets franchise history with his 14 40-point games, nearly got one against Brooklyn after returning from a six-game absence with a sprained right thumb for Monday’s victory at Philadelphia.
Mikal Bridges scored 28 points and Royce O’Neal had 18 for the short-handed Nets, who trimmed a 23-point deficit to 107-101 with about five minutes remaining before Irving knocked down two straight 3-pointers for a 113-101 lead. Ben Simmons had nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists after sitting out a loss to Golden State on Monday.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Irving has been a calming presence for the young Mavericks players, though calm certainly wasn’t the word to define his time in Brooklyn. He played in just 143 games in his 3 1/2 seasons, missing time during one season after taking a leave of absence, nearly all the home games another season because of his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as mandated in New York City, and then getting suspended by the team last season when he refused to apologize for posting a link to an antisemitic work on social media.
The relationship with the team deteriorated to the point that Irving, who grew up as a Nets fan in New Jersey and New York, wanted the homecoming to be over by the middle of last season.
The Nets, who had already passed on giving him a contract extension the previous summer, then traded away Kevin Durant days after moving Irving, ending an era that had so much promise when the All-Stars came together in 2019.
There was no tribute video, which Durant received when he returned for the first time last week. Rather, the Nets showed photos of Irving, Seth Curry and Markieff Morris on the overhead videoboard, welcoming the three former Nets back to Brooklyn before starting lineups were announced.
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KNICKS 123, GRIZZLIES 113
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson had 27 points and eight assists before exiting with an apparent ankle injury, Donte DiVincenzo had 32 points, and New York beat short-handed Memphis.
Isaiah Hartenstein had 17 points and eight rebounds and Precious Achiuwa scored 17 as the Knicks shot 55.8% and won for the 10th time in their past 11 games, improving to 16-3 over their last 19.
Vince Williams Jr. scored 19 points for Memphis.
Brunson appeared to injure his ankle when he was fouled by G.G. Jackson in the fourth quarter.
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HEAT 121, MAGIC 95
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 23 points to lead seven Miami players in double figures, and the Heat beat Orlando.
Butler also had eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals for the Heat, who won for just the second time in their last seven home games. Terry Rozier scored 18 while Tyler Herro and All-Star Bam Adebayo each scored 14 for Miami, which won the season series against Orlando 3-1.
All-Star forward Paolo Banchero scored 23 points for Orlando, the 18th consecutive road game in which he’s scored at least 20 — tying Tracy McGrady for the second-longest such streak in Magic history.
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PACERS 132, ROCKETS 129
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 29 points and teamed up with T.J. McConnell to spur a third-quarter comeback as Indiana beat Houston.
The Rockets led 85-75 early in the third, but the Pacers allowed just 14 points the rest of the period.
McConnell had 17 points and four assists as the Pacers won for the second time in three days. They’ve won nine straight in the series.
Jalen Green had 30 points to lead the Rockets, who have lost two straight. Dillon Brooks added 23 points and rookie Amen Thompson finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
