Kyrie Irving totaled 27 points and nine assists as the Brooklyn Nets recovered from a slow start and extended their season-high winning streak to eight games with a 129-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night in New York.
Irving made 11 of 18 shots and reached the 25-point mark for the 18th time in 24 games as Brooklyn posted its most lopsided win of the season. The Nets are on their longest winning streak since 2006 and won their sixth straight without Kevin Durant (strained left hamstring).
James Harden added 20 points, seven assists and nine rebounds for the Nets, who shot 61.1 percent over the final three quarters, 53.3 percent overall and hit 20 3-pointers. Reserve Landry Shamet added 19 as Brooklyn dominated in its second game since some fans were allowed to return.
Nikola Vucevic collected 28 points and 12 rebounds points for Orlando, which shot 40.2 percent and absorbed its most lopsided loss of the season. James Ennis III added 15 for the Magic, who were outrebounded 51-35.
Philadelphia 76ers 111 – Dallas Mavericks 97
Joel Embiid scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lift host Philadelphia past Dallas.
Embiid shot 5 of 20 from the field but made 11 of 12 free throws. Ben Simmons added 15 points and seven assists while Seth Curry contributed 15 points for the Sixers, who improved to 14-2 at home.
Luka Doncic led Dallas with 19 points. Josh Richardson added 13 and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 12 for the Mavericks, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Dallas big man Kristaps Porzingis sat out due to lower back tightness.
New York Knicks 140 – Sacramento Kings 121
Rookie Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points and Alec Burks added 24 off the bench, propelling host New York to a victory over Sacramento.
Julius Randle collected 21 points and 14 rebounds and Derrick Rose made 7 of 11 shots from the floor to finish with 18 points for the Knicks. Rose was inserted into the starting lineup in place of Elfrid Payton, who sat out for the first time this season due to an ailing hamstring.
De’Aaron Fox had 29 points and 11 assists and Harrison Barnes added 22 points for the reeling Kings, whose season-high losing streak reached nine games.
Washington Wizards 112 – Denver Nuggets 110
Bradley Beal scored 33 points, Russell Westbrook had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and visiting Washington beat Denver.
Rui Hachimura scored 20 points, Raul Neto added 15 and Robin Lopez had 10 for Washington.
Jamal Murray finished with a game-high 34 points, Nikola Jokic had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who couldn’t make a comeback in the final seconds.
Milwaukee Bucks 129 – New Orleans Pelicans 125
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points and 10 rebounds and Khris Middleton added 31 points as host Milwaukee held off New Orleans.
Donte DiVincenzo scored a career-high 24 points and Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis scored 12 each as the Bucks won their fourth straight game.
Zion Williamson scored 34, Brandon Ingram had 23 and Lonzo Ball scored 20 to lead the Pelicans, who defeated the Bucks 131-126 on Jan. 29 in New Orleans.
Memphis Grizzlies 122 – Los Angeles Clippers 94
Jonas Valanciunas recorded 16 points and 15 rebounds, Tyus Jones came off the bench to score 20 points and host Memphis beat Los Angeles.
All five Grizzlies starters scored in double figures, including Dillon Brooks with 19 points in his return from a three-game absence caused by a thigh injury. Brooks’ 3-of-5 3-point shooting set the pace on a night Memphis made 11 of 19 shots from long range.
Clippers All-Star selections Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were held to 17 and 13 points, respectively. Serge Ibaka added another 13 points for Los Angeles, and Reggie Jackson scored 12 points off the bench.
—Field Level Media
