Kyrie Irving gave the Brooklyn Nets a deserved win over the Charlotte Hornets with an incredible performance. The Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies clinched dominant wins while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns struggled until the final seconds. A surprise visit made headlines for the Warriors.
Charlotte Hornets (32-34) – Brooklyn Nets (33-33) 121:132 (BOXSCORE)
- March seems to be the month of 50 point games! After LeBron and Tatum Kyrie Irving has now entered this elite club and played his best game of the season against the Hornets. He only needed 19 throws, of which he sunk an outstanding 15 from the field, 9/12 three-pointers and 11/13 from the charity stripe. Alongside Michael Jordan, he is the only game in history with multiple 50-point games at over 75 percent from the field.
- “Young players should take this game as a prime example of how to score in the NBA,” said Kevin Durant, visibly impressed after the game, after congratulating his teammate with a rehearsed handshake when he was substituted.
- Thanks to Irving’s explosion, the Nets’ fourth win in the past ten games was clear pretty early on. The Hornets led 4-2 early in the game, after which they never came close again. In the middle of the third quarter, Brooklyn even led by 36 points, allowing Durant to have a very relaxed evening (14 points, 6/13 FG). After Irving, Andre Drummond was the top pitcher in the Nets with 20 points (7/13) and also put on a double-double (14 rebounds).
- The Hornets didn’t want to come together much, especially from Downtown (13/41, 31.7 percent), which is why every attempt to start a comeback quickly fizzled out. LaMelo Ball (2/8 threes, 24 points) and PJ Washington (0/5 threes, 4 points) were emblematic of that. The 30-point performances by Miles Bridges (11/19) and Terry Rozier (10/19) didn’t help either.
Indiana Pacers (22-45) – Cleveland Cavaliers (38-27) 124:127 (BOXSCORE)
- What a thriller in Indiana – but with a better ending for the guests from Ohio. It looked as if the Pacers would be the winners when the Cavs mobilized their last strength and crowned his personal gala performance in the person of Darius Garland. But first things first.
- The two teams fought a heated battle throughout the game before Indiana was able to take the lead 98:90 at the end of the third quarter and took a lot of momentum into the last section. To the annoyance of home fans, however, this belonged to the Cavs All-Star Guard. His three-pointer and two free-throw conversions ensured the Cavs scored the first nine points of the period and quickly reclaimed the lead.
- It then went back and forth for a long time before Malcolm Brogdon was awarded two points for the 124:122 lead after a goaltending by Evan Mobley with 40 seconds to go. Mobley made up for that offense with a putback at the other end, and even without the injured Jarrett Allen, the defense held together afterward. After a stop, the Wilson went into the hands of Garland, who was unnecessarily fouled by sophomore Jalen Smith on his drive and scored his points 40 and 41 (career best) on the line. In the next possession, Dean Wade intercepted a pass attempt from Brogdon and Lamar Stevens closed the game at the free-throw line. Turnovers were also what finally broke the Pacers’ necks (18 for 23 Cavs points – 7 for 4 points on the other side).
- “I was just playing my game,” Garland said happily after his career night. In doing so, the 22-year-old hit 14/26 from the field, 4/9 threes and remained flawless on the Charity Stripe (9/9). At the same time, he also played 13 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds. Mobley also put on a double-double (22, 12 rebounds), Lauri Markkanen contributed another 21 points (8/14).
- At Indy, Tyrese Haliburton was the top pitcher with 25 points on 9/14 from the field, while Brodgon didn’t have a good pitching day (6/15, 12 points). Good production came from the Pacers’ bench with a total of 56 points, Smith, Goga Bitadze and Duane Washington Jr. all registered for 15 points in the statsheet.
Orlando Magic (16-50) – Phoenix Suns (52-13) 99:102 (BOXSCORE)
- The bosses in Phoenix will be keeping a very close eye on the team right now and will certainly be very happy with what they’re getting. There was no question that the Suns are a top team with Chris Paul and Devin Booker, that they are also without their two stars, but not necessarily. So it’s all the more gratifying that the leaders in the west have now won three of the four games without their duo and, in the person of Cameron Payne, is finally getting in shape on the way to the title.
- In the three starts alongside Landry Shamet in the backcourt, the guard has a total of 58 points and 36 assists, 18 (6/16 FG) and 12 of which he contributed against the Magic. His two most important counts were free-throw conversions with 6.9 seconds on the clock, which put the Suns in front by +3. Then Franz Wagner had the chance to equalize the game, But Mikal Bridges got a hand on the German’s shot attempt and made the victory perfect.
- Once again, the biggest beneficiary of Payne’s ball distribution skills was Shamet, who sunk strong 6/10 threes for 21 points and then earned a lot of praise from Payne as well. “Landry has been delivering lately and we need to keep it up as soon as Book comes back. I know I put on a lot of assists but credit goes to the guys who are sinking shots,” he said after the game.
- However, the Magic put up a solid fight against the Suns – especially on defense. Despite not hitting well as a team (38 percent from the field and 18 percent from downtown), they managed to close a double-digit Suns lead in the second half, earning two free throws from top scorer Wendell Carter Jr. (20, 12 rebounds) with 1:51 minutes on the clock even their first lead in the second half. As a result, however, they lacked the rip-off.
- Franz Wagner showed one of his weaker games of the season and ended the game with 6 points (3/8), 1 rebound and 2 assists. His brother Moe Wagner, on the other hand, was the second-best thrower on his team with 12 points off the bench (3/9). Mo Bamba secured at least 15 rebounds, but often looked overwhelmed against Suns big Deandre Ayton (21, 19).
