The Brooklyn Nets took their talents to North Carolina to take on the Charlotte Hornets on New Years Eve and won 123-106. This is the third time that these teams have played each other this season and the Nets now lead the regular-season series 3-0.
For the Nets, Kyrie Irving had 28 points and six rebounds while Kevin Durant had 23 points and four assists. Royce O’Neale had 14 points and six assists while Nic Claxton had 14 points and six blocks.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball had 23 points and 11 assists while Mason Plumlee had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Terry Rozier had 16 points and five rebounds and PJ Washington had 12 points and three rebounds.
As expected, the Nets got off to a good start and didn’t look back. Brooklyn led by as many as 22 points in this game and had their fourth wire-to-wire win of this campaign.
The Nets held the Hornets to 39.6% shooting from the field as they emphasized closing out on three-point shooters. The Nets played well in every aspect of the game other than being out-rebounded by Charlotte 45-41 and turning the ball over 14 times. Ultimately, Brooklyn did not let the Hornets establish a rhythm at any point and that led to this win before 2023 comes upon us.
Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Nets’ thorough win over the Hornets:
KYRIE DAGGERS, GOODNIGHT!
— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) January 1, 2023
Aside from this win, the best news of the night for the Nets is that Kevin Durant didn’t even have to see the floor in the 4th because the game was under control.
KD finishes with just 30 minutes on the night.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 1, 2023
Nic Claxton has blocked a career-high-tying six shots for a second straight game.
He’s the first player to register six blocks in consecutive games since Brook Lopez in Jan. 2020.
He’s the first Net to do so since Shawn Bradley in Nov. 1996.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) January 1, 2023
The Brooklyn Nets have won 11 games in a row, tying for the 2nd longest winning streak in franchise history. This team is just playing on a different level right now!
— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) January 1, 2023
Final: Nets 123, Hornets 106
Irving: 28 pts, 11/19 shooting
Durant: 23 pts, 9/15 shooting
Claxton: 14 pts, 6/7 shooting, 6 blocks
O’Neale: 14 pts, 4/6 from threeSolid all around defensive effort. That’s 11 straight and 15 of 16 for Brooklyn.
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 1, 2023
Jacque Vaughn is now 22-7 as Nets head coach 75.9%
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) January 1, 2023
Nets beat the Hornets 123-106 to extend the winning streak to 11. KD and Kyrie got to rest, Nic Claxton threw another block party and Yuta with a career-high five steals. Spurs come to town Monday. Happy new year.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 1, 2023
.