NBA Wrap January 6th

SUBLIME IRVING LEADS NETS ROUT OVER JAZZ

Superstar Point Guard Kyrie Irving put up 29 points including 22 in the first half as the Brooklyn Nets routed the Utah Jazz 130-96 at Barclays Centre.

Irving got the ball rolling making his first nine shots and his teammates soon followed with the team restricting the Jazz a team season-low 14 first quarter points.

Brooklyn was playing without superstar Kevin Durant who is out for four games after being in close contact with an unknown person who had the Coronavirus.

In a night where the ball wasn’t going through the hoop with regular frequency, Utah star Donovan Mitchell was by far the side best finishing with 31 points.

The bounce back win for Brooklyn puts them at an even .500 and its next game is against the League-leading Philadelphia 76ers to complete a six-game homestand.

Utah has little time to re-group as they travel across the Brooklyn bridge to face the rejuvenated New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

LEBRON, AD PUSH LAKERS PAST GRIZZLIES

Superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis each had 26 points as the Lakers edged out the Memphis Grizzlies 96-92 at FedExForum.

Offence for both teams all night was hard to come by, but with the game on the line LeBron came through in the clutch.

With 1:03 remaining and only leading by three, LeBron was closely guarded by Dillon Brooks before taking a tough turnaround which fell through the net to give the Lakers a five point cushion.

Just when the game seemed over Memphis stormed back with Dillon Brooks making a corner three of the inbounds to cut the lead to two.

Memphis would have one last chance to force overtime, but DeAnthony Melton couldn’t get the timeout as the Lakers held on.

THE JOKER GUIDES NUGGETS OVER THE TIMBERWOLVES

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic’s monster night has given the Denver Nuggets a 123-116 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.

Jokic after posting 19 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 124-109 triumph two days earlier had 35 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists.

Minnesota who fought toe to toe with the Nuggets 48 hours earlier were right in the contest leading 100-93 on a Anthony Edwards’ layup with 11:24 before Denver held them to 16 points the rest of the way.

D’Angelo Russell top-scored for the Wolves with 33 points whilst former Nugget Juancho Hernangomez had 25.

The Nuggets’ next opponent are the Dallas Mavericks, for Minnesota they face Portland.

PADDY’S CAREER NIGHT CLIPS THE CLIPPERS

Australia’s Paddy Mills put on an scorching display of shooting as the San Antonio Spurs held of a late charging Los Angeles Clippers 116-113.

Mills finished the contest with 27 points including a career high eight threes in 29 minutes off the bench.

The Spurs who dictated the majority of the game led by as many as 24 with 5:44 left in the opening half before withstanding a Clippers comeback.

Seemingly in the drivers’ seat leading by 15 with 4:57 in the game, the Spurs saw the Clippers one of the Championship favourites storm back in a flurry.

Trailing by two, new Clipper Luke Kennard had two chances to give the Clippers the lead only for his triples at the top of the key to sail long.

Then Kawhi Leonard who rose to superstardom in his seven seasons at San Antonio had the opportunity to force overtime but his shot was well contested by DeMar DeRozan and the Spurs prevailed to put an end to a four game skid.

CHICAGO RALLIES TO UPEND BLAZERS

The Chicago have begun its four game West Coast trip on the right note defeating the Portland 111-108 at the Moda Centre.

Chicago got even contributions with its starting five all reaching double-figures, combining for 85 points.

Portland star backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum had 24 and 26 points in the loss.

The victory levels Chicago to an even .500 record, with Portland dropping its second straight.

By Juri Bilcich

IMAGE: Los Angeles Times.