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sports Diahuebs 10 Maart 2022

Irving scores 50, Nets beat Hornets to snap 4-game skid

(AP) — Kevin Durant sim- from beyond the arc. He also of eighth place in the Eastern
ply began clapping when was 11 of 13 from the line. Conference standings, break-
asked about teammate Ky- He became only the second ing a tie with the Hornets.
rie Irving’s 50-point per- guard in NBA history to have
formance Tuesday night. multiple 50-point games Miles Bridges and Terry Ro-
while shooting 75% from the zier each finished with 30
“That was master class,” Du- floor, according to Stats. The points for Charlotte, which
rant said. other is Michael Jordan. had its two-game win streak
snapped. LaMelo Ball added
Irving hit nine 3-pointers and “It was special,” Seth Curry 24 points and seven assists for
the Brooklyn Nets snapped a said. “He made great plays the Hornets.
four-game skid with a 132- all over the floor. He didn’t
121 win over the Charlotte force it. Catch and shoot, The Nets bolted to a 69-43
Hornets. off the dribble and got to the lead behind Irving’s 20 points
rim, too. We needed that Ky- in the first half. The Hornets
Irving became one of 22 rie.” didn’t help themselves, re-
players in NBA history with peatedly committing turn- and good build up for our
five 50-point games, accord- Durant said Irving had “that overs with lazy passes, in- The Hornets used a number league. It’s never too per-
ing to Basketball Reference. look in his eye” before the cluding two by Ball on back- of players to defend Irving, sonal, but we understand
His career high is 57 points game, and the former Duke to-back possessions. but simply couldn’t stop him. as competitors we want to
on March, 12, 2015, while point guard agreed. win the game. ... But it’s not
playing for the Cleveland Brooklyn stretched its lead to “He made tough shots,” about us and any individual
Cavaliers in an overtime win “It felt like a must-win 34 points in the second half Hornets coach James Bor- matchups, it’s about being a
against San Antonio. night,” Irving said. “I’m not before the Hornets trimmed rego said. “We double- great team and building on
saying the other nights didn’t it to 13 with less than four teamed him, switched up our what we set out to do.”
“Younger players should feel like that, but you have to minutes left in the game. But coverages and threw different
watch this game and learn go into that deep place where Irving, as he’d done through- looks at him, but we have to Nets: Durant was assessed
what it takes to score at that you aren’t distracted by any- out the second half, thwarted give him credit.” a technical foul in the third
level,” Durant said. thing that is going on.” the rally by knocking down a quarter for pushing Rozier
jumper. The Nets travel to Philadel- while trying to free himself
Durant had a quiet night by Added Durant: “Everything phia to face former teammate up for an inbounds pass. ...
his lofty standards, finishing he does is so pure. It looked “He’s incredible. He’s a ca- James Harden and the 76ers Curry picked up a technical
with 14 points. so easy tonight. I looked up reer highlight reel every time, on Thursday night in what for arguing a call.
and he had 10 points and every night,” said Nets coach should be an interesting, if
But he didn’t have to do it felt like he had taken two Steve Nash. “We obviously not entertaining, night. Hornets: Jalen McDaniels,
much lifting with Irving tak- shots.” have a special player on our who had been out since Jan.
ing control most of the game. hands and tonight, he was Irving said he harbors no ill 21 with an ankle injury, re-
Andre Drummond domi- unbelievably efficient and feelings toward Harden, who turned to action. He played
Irving, who has only been al- nated inside, finishing with difficult to defend. ... Those sought to leave Brooklyn. nine minutes and had two
lowed to play in away games 20 points and 14 rebounds were really big shots he made points. ... Montrezl Harrell
due to COVID-19 protocols for Brooklyn, which got back in the second half, but overall “It’s fine,” Irving said. “It was assessed a technical foul
in New York, finished 15 of to .500 on the season and he’s just an incredible player, makes for good stories, it when he shoved Nic Clax-
19 from the field and 9 of 12 moved into sole possession shot maker.” makes for good narratives ton.

Djokovic in draw at Indian Wells, status still up in air

(AP) — Novak Djokovic seen whether the second- Djokovic isn’t vaccinated of players who are absent day before the Indian Wells
was placed in the men’s ranked player will be al- against COVID-19. The from Indian Wells. event begins.
draw for the BNP Pari- lowed to enter the United U.S. requires visitors to be
bas Open on Tuesday, al- States. vaccinated to enter the coun- He last played at a tourna- “I will focus on getting the
though it remains to be try. Additionally, tournament ment in Dubai last month, right treatment as soon as
officials have said everyone losing in the quarterfinals to possible and I hope I can be
at Indian Wells must be fully Jiri Vesely. back on the court soonest,”
vaccinated to be on site. Krejcikova said in a state-
He was deported from Aus- ment.
Djokovic’s name was on the tralia in January after his visa
entry list when the men’s was canceled on the eve of the The 26-year-old from the
draw was made Tuesday, so Australian Open. Djokovic Czech Republic is the de-
the five-time tournament said a previous COVID-19 fending champion at the
champion was included. He infection meant he was ex- French Open, which begins
received a first-round bye empt from rules stating that May 22.
and would play either David all arriving visitors must be
Goffin or Jordan Thompson fully vaccinated. He was de- The desert tournament al-
in the second round. tained in an immigration fa- ready lost top-ranked Ash
cility before being ordered to Barty, who announced last
“We are currently in com- leave. week that she wouldn’t play
munication with his team; since she hasn’t sufficiently
however, it has not been de- Meanwhile, Barbora Kre- recovered after her victory in
termined if he will participate jcikova withdrew because of the Australian Open in Janu-
in the event by getting (Cen- an elbow injury. ary.
ters for Disease Control and
Prevention) approval to enter The second-ranked Kre- Alize Cornet of France moved
the country,” tournament of- jcikova said she’s been both- into Krejcikova’s place in the
ficials said in a statement. ered by the injury since the draw and a lucky loser from
tournament in Qatar nearly qualifying will take Cornet’s
Djokovic’s photo was includ- two weeks ago. She said the place.
ed on a “We Miss You” wall pain worsened overnight, a