Durant leads Nets over Magic, Celtics beat Hornets

Kevin Durant scored 45 points, his season high, to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 109-102 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday, confirming New York’s rebuild.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics, more than ever in the East, faced the Charlotte Hornets (140-105) and the Philadelphia 76ers finally erased a 16-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks (104-101) in the evening. Center Joel Embiid’s return from injury.

In Brooklyn, the Nets did a lot of work right away, as the Magic led by ten points during the first quarter. But things went back to normal and the New Yorkers took the lead before halftime before Durant put on a show.

In the third quarter, “KD” scored 19 points and blocked two shots in addition to a steal. “My teammates made great screens for me, we positioned well and I was able to make some baskets,” Durant concluded after the game.

The Nets had a chaotic start to the season: Coach Steve Nash was fired when Kyrie Irving found himself at the center of a social media controversy over an anti-Semitic movie ad.

– Routine in Boston –

But in a few games, everything got better, and Durant had complete success (19 of 24 shots), as well as seven rebounds and five assists, leading the Nets to their second consecutive victory and balance: 11 wins and 11 losses.

“We’ve been through a lot already this season, and getting 50% wins was our main goal the last two weeks. We want to keep moving forward,” added Durant, who was well helped by Irving (20 points) and Nic Claxton on Monday. 16 points and 13 rebounds).

It was business as usual in Boston, and Jayson Tatum, who was out for the last game, came back to score 35 points before being rested in the final quarter, with the situation under control. As for Jaylen Brown, who replaced him against Washington on Sunday, the rest shift hurt his neck.

The Celtics put on a show with 24 3-pointers and 40 assists from their defenders to record their 13th win in 14 games. Without Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward, the “Hornets” could not find an answer.

Boston is rolling a little further atop the Eastern Conference (17-4).

– Brilliant return from Embiid –

In Philadelphia, Embiid continued smoothly after missing four games with a sprained left foot. He initially missed six of seven shots, but still finished with a 50% shooting percentage (9 baskets for 18 shots), an additional eight rebounds and seven assists.

When Embiid gave the 76ers a 101-100 lead 18 seconds into the buzzer, then hit the final free throw of the game, the crowd chanted “MVP! MVP!” chanted. And he reassured everyone after the match that he was “excited to be back soon”.

In Washington, Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 41 points, including 29 in the first half. His club beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (142-127) without star Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter with a right calf injury and was helped off the floor by French teammate Rudy Gobert.

In Los Angeles, the Lakers long believed they would win their third straight against the Pacers, leading 101-84 with ten minutes remaining.

And even LeBron James, who was released in the first quarter after an ankle sprain at 113 everywhere, was able to restore LA’s lead, but it was Indiana who had the final say thanks to Tyrese Halliburton’s crucial rebound and three-pointer. rookie Andrew Nembhard (116-115).