LA Laker Crush Nets. Los Angeles Lakers claim blowout win over Brooklyn Nets after Kyrie Irving, Dennis Schroder ejections
Lakers blow out Nets after Irving ejection; Jazz become first team to hit 40-win mark; Steph Curry closes in on Wilt Chamberlain record; Joel Embiid powers 76ers to victory; Portland’s Enes Kanter records NBA-season high 30 rebounds
The short-handed Los Angeles Lakers blew away the star-studded Brooklyn Nets following the ejection of Kyrie Irving and Dennis Schroder, while the Utah Jazz became the first team to hit the 40-win mark this season.
Los Angeles Lakers 126-101 Brooklyn Nets
In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Kevin Durant led the Nets with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge added 12 points.
Point guard Dennis Schroder carried the short-handed Lakers early, scoring all 19 points in the first half. Andre Drummond took over in the second half with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds
While Schroder had it going early, Andre Drummond took over in the second half, finishing with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Ben McLemore had 17 points, Markieff Morris added 14, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 14 points and five assists, Talen Horton-Tucker had 14 points and 11 assists and Montrezl Harrell totaled 10 points and eight rebounds.
Having jumped out to an 18-7 lead in the first quarter, the LeBron James and Anthony Davies-less Lakers were reeled in during the second courtesy of Kyrie Irving’s 18 first-half points. But still Los Angeles managed to enter the break up 61-58.
With 9:41 left in the third quarter and the Lakers up four points, the game produced some fireworks. Schroder and Irving had words during an inbounds play, which led to a double-technical foul and both getting ejected soon after for jawing at each other and the officials.
Irving had to be escorted off the floor and threw his No. 11 jersey into the stands as he exited to the locker room, his departure prompting a 26-15 run from the Lakers as they saw out the third-quarter with an unassailable 15-point lead.
Mike Conley added 26 points and Joe Ingles contributed 20 off the bench, with both players sinking five 3-pointers, to help the Jazz overcome a double-digit deficit en route to a rout of the Kings.
It was Utah’s 24th straight win at home and the team’s 11th win in 13 games. Mitchell didn’t have the most efficient shooting night. He only hit 12 of 31 field goals, including 3-for-12 from 3-point range, but he made up for it at the free-throw line by sinking 15 of 17 foul shots.
The two-time All-Star, who’s playing like an MVP right now, became the first Jazz player since Hall of Famer Karl Malone to score 35 points in three consecutive games.
De’Aaron Fox scored 30 and Richaun Holmes poured in 25 points for Sacramento, but the Kings couldn’t hold on to an early 11-point lead and saw an 105-104 advantage with 6:05 remaining blown out by a 19-4 surge from the Jazz.
Rudy Gobert and Royce O’Neale only combined for 11 points, but O’Neale had a team-high 14 rebounds and Gobert hauled down 11 boards with two blocked shots.