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Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving had another masterclass performance for his team when they visited the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. His production from the field definitely made life easier for his squad and left James Harden in awe as he heaped praise on his All-Star teammate after the win, via Michael Scotto.
James Harden on Kyrie Irving’s 40-point game: “It’s a movie. It’s like a show. Sometimes, I forget I’m on the court. He makes them so effortless. One of the reasons why I’m here. He makes the game so easy for the rest of the team.” pic.twitter.com/W7tWEcOphw
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 16, 2021
The Kings managed to put up a fight against a much-better Nets squad that was without Kevin Durant who was ruled out due to a left hamstring strain. However, Irving's efficient scoring from the field definitely made the difference in the game, particularly when he fueled his team's huge run in the late third quarter.
He notched 40 points on 9/11 shots from beyond the arc along with four rebounds and three assists. Harden added a triple-double performance of 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists to provide a lift for the short-handed Nets.
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Backup big man Hassan Whiteside saw significant minutes in the game as starting center Richaun Holmes remained on the sidelines due to soreness in his right knee. Whiteside delivered as he came out with 26 points and 16 rebounds while Cory Joseph added 22 points of his own.
The Nets' firepower on offense proved to be too much to handle for the Kings as they escaped with a 136-125 victory. With the win, Brooklyn further improved to a 17-12 record for the third spot in the Eastern Conference.
Heavy scoring production will still be expected from both Kyrie Irving and James Harden in their coming games as Kevin Durant is projected to be out for their next two contests due to his injury. The Nets will look to extend their three-game winning streak when they visit the red-hot Phoenix Suns on Feb. 16.
