The Rundown: Kyrie explodes for 60 vs. Magic

Scoreboard

Grizzlies 135, Pacers 102

Nets 150, Magic 108

Heat 105, Pistons 98

Suns 131, Pelicans 115

What went down

Four games were on hand on Wednesday and the disparity between the top teams and struggling teams was apparent. The Nets destroyed the Magic by 42 as Kyrie Irving delivered a masterful performance. The Grizzlies walloped the Pacers so badly that the team’s social media account hid their score on the final score post (it was funny, sad, and witty all at the same time so at least there’s that). 

The Heat, the best team in the East, had a little trouble getting past the feisty, second-worst team in the conference Pistons but managed to pull away in the end. It was Max Strus’ 16 fourth-quarter points that held off Detroit as well as Tyler Herro’s 29 points off the bench. All that production was needed especially after Jimmy Butler left the game with a sprained ankle. 

In the final game, the Suns cruised to their 55th win of the year at the expense of the Pelicans. Phoenix is the only team so far that has at least 50 wins. 

Big-time baller

Today, Kyrie Irving was on another plateau than anyone else. The Nets star guard poured in a career-high and franchise-record 60 points against the Orlando Magic. 

Irving was 20-for-31 from the field, 8-for-12 from downtown, and missed just one of his 13 attempts at the line. He also had six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block. 

Irving and teammate Kevin Durant are the first pair of teammates in league history to have at least 50 points in back-to-back games as KD went off for 53 in the Nets’ last game. Another tidbit to Irving’s historic performance is that it’s the first time since 1962 that there have been 60-point games on consecutive games after Karl-Anthony Towns scored the same last night. 

CAREER HIGH.
FRANCHISE RECORD.

60 POINTS FOR KYRIE IRVING.

History on League Pass: https://t.co/oz9UCQxdQa pic.twitter.com/13YUinojIQ

— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2022

What he said

Game recognizes game and KAT shows some respect to Irving after his 60-piece. 

Jersey putting up numbers.
🤝 @KyrieIrving

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 16, 2022

Did you see that?

Irving will get all the buzz but check out this Dunk of the Night nominee from De’Anthony Melton. 

💥 De'Anthony Melton to the RACK 💥 pic.twitter.com/f1QMOcq88V

— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2022