Nets

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 60 points and matched an NBA season-high in points on Tuesday in a brilliant display of scoring.

The unvaccinated Irving has not been unable to play in games in New York because of the city’s policy that requires private sector employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Irving and the Nets are hopeful New York City mayor Eric Adams will drop the policy by the time the NBA postseason begins in the second week of April, allowing Irving to play in all playoff games. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 60 points and matched an NBA season-high in points on Tuesday in a brilliant display of scoring.

One night after Karl-Anthony Towns sets Minnesota's single-game record with 60 points, Irving matches him point for point to break Brooklyn's mark.

Content to sit back and enjoy the show as well, fellow scoring ace Kevin Durant took only nine shots to finish with a tidy 19 points. Magic fans responded in kind, treating Irving — not exactly the NBA’s most popular player given his ongoing COVID-19 vaccine saga — to multiple standing ovations in appreciation of his record-setting display of skill. Although Irving finished with “only” 19 in the second half, he also played just 12 minutes as the Nets ran away for a 42-point blowout. “When you can get 60 in the flow of the game and you’re not putting up too many bad shots and guys are supporting you, telling you to go after the record, that makes basketball well worth it,” said Irving, whose previous career high had been 57 points with the Cavaliers against San Antonio in 2015. As those free-throw attempts would attest, Irving attacked the rim with his usual aplomb, hitting at least one hanging, spinning layup that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Averaging nearly two points per attempt, Irving shot 20-for-31 from the floor, including 8-for-12 on 3-pointers, and was nearly perfect at the foul line (12-for-13).

SportsLine's computer model just revealed its NBA picks today for Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets.

The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. Magic? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Orlando is in the top 10 in assist rate, generating an assist on 61.3 percent of field goals, and the Magic are also in the top 10 of the NBA in free-throw accuracy at 79.1 percent. The Magic are also stout in transition, giving up only 11.8 fast break points per game to opponents. The Nets are No. 22 in the NBA in defensive rating, giving up more than 1.12 points per possession. Brooklyn is the league's second-worst defensive rebounding team and, while the Nets are prolific on offense, they have glaring weaknesses on the other end. The Nets are also above-average in field goal percentage allowed at 45.3 percent. From there, Orlando's offense struggles mightily, ranking No. 29 in the NBA in offensive rating and scoring only 104.1 points per 100 possessions. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Nets vs. Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Magic, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. The model enters Week 21 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 78-48 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,400.

The Orlando Magic's homestand continues as they take on the Brooklyn Nets and another juggernaut duo for their defense to handle.

That puts the pressure on another budding young defender in R.J. Hampton. He is quickly building a defensive reputation and the Magic see him as a potential 3-and-D, pace-changing guard at this point. But Carter has found his place in Orlando. He has been a fulcrum as a high-post organizer, a bully on the block, able to hit turnaround fadeaways and post moves or kick it back out. Jalen Suggs got the primary defensive assignment on James Harden in Sunday’s game and did a really good job. He was named a nominee for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award last week, the second time he has gotten a nomination for the weekly honor. But this will be a test of how much Hampton has gained defensively. He has not missed a beat. The offense did not really tailor to him or emphasize his skills. And then splitting that between him and Kyrie Irving on the road. This is not the Wendell Carter of the Chicago Bulls who was hesitant to shoot and struggled to find his place within the team concept. The Magic defended Joel Embiid and James Harden well all game and they still put up big numbers and paraded to the foul line continuously. They are leaning heavily on Kevin Durant to carry the scoring load. At a certain point, the light flicked on for Wendell Carter. He came to understand just how good he can be and how much his team needs him to be aggressive and look to score.

Ben Simmons has been ruled out for Tuesday's game between the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic in Florida.

Before missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, they had made the NBA Finals five times in a row.CLICK HERE. They have been one of the best teams in the entire NBA, and Steph Curry is having an MVP-caliber year. They are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 35-33 record in the 68 games that they have played in so far this season.

How quickly Goran Dragic has been thrust into a pivotal role and a starting spot would shock many, if the Nets weren't in such dire straits.

But it’s a ramp up, and for not playing as long as he hasn’t played, I think he played really.” Their last game without him was Feb. 24 against the Celtics, and Thomas logged 30:55 in that game. Irving is set to miss the next three games and both Seth Curry and Cam Thomas were out Tuesday, so the Nets will need every one of those minutes they can get. But we’re in a little bit of desperation here with guards out of the lineup.” With Harden gone, Irving was the only lead guard left on the roster. “Not really, with all the stuff that’s going on,” coach Steve Nash said before their game Tuesday night against the Magic. “If we were healthy every day, then maybe he wouldn’t have to play as many minutes as he’s played this far.

Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (ankle) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic.

- Nets' James Johnson (illness) out on TuesdayApril 5th, 2022 - Cam Johnson coming off Suns' bench on TuesdayApril 5th, 2022 Curry will not be active for the second straight game with ankle soreness.

Orlando, Fla. (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 60 points, most in the Nets' NBA...

Magic: G Jalen Suggs did not play for the third time in five games after re-injuring his right ankle on Sunday night. “That's the true purity of this game, doing it efficiently on both ends of the floor and coming out with a W.” Durant scored 53 points in a win against the New York Knicks on Sunday. Coach Steve Nash said both players might be available Wednesday night against Dallas. ... The Nets won three of four against the Magic this season. He's crafty enough and he's seen every coverage and he knows how to play with a pace. “We’re seeing a lot of talent displayed every night, and this was one of the elite ones.” “There's times he's shooting over two people,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “You try to double-team him, he's smart enough to know when to go and when not to go. Neither Durant nor Irving played in the loss. Tough ones, with double-teams and triple-teams coming,” he said. He went on to pass Deron Williams' Nets record of 57 points. He's fast in transition so you can't speed up and try to deny him. Irving shot 20 for 31, including 8 of 12 on 3-pointers, in 35 minutes.

Each game is as important as the next for these Brooklyn Nets, a team that's fighting for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Nets may have found something here and it’ll be interesting to see what happens when Aldridge returns. WCJ gave Joel Embiid fits on Sunday evening and helped hold the big fella to 9-28 shooting from the field. Mills struggled on Sunday, going 2-11 from the field and 1-9 from three point range.

They are regularly heard on national television and not just at Barclays Center. National and local TV announcers have taken notice of the Brooklyn Brigade ...

It’s the counter argument to those who claim the Nets have no fans. The group started in November 2012, the Nets first season in Brooklyn. Edemeka, a borough resident who wanted to welcome the team, went on the NetsDaily comment section and offered fans tickets to an upcoming game. Of the group’s trip to Philly, Edemeka said, in his typical understated way, the experience was “amazing.” Indeed, it was shocking. “Each of us considers it our mission to get the crowd started,” said Edemeka, the investment banker and a Harvard grad. A delegation even went to China in 2019 to root for the Nets! (They organized the trip themselves.) Of course, it’s more than just a group of fans. Broadcasters understand that like their Dodger predecessors, Nets fans are passionate and part of the game. “Our fans traveled,” said KD. “It was pretty remarkable to see Brooklyn fans because the label on us is that we don’t have any fans. (There’s also a sister, DeeDee, who’s been the group’s photographer!) They were well heard in an otherwise silent Spectrum Center when the Nets ran the 76ers out of the gym. We ain't hear no more Ben Simmons chants from the Sixers fans." "It was very quiet towards the end.