On January 16, Beijing time, the NBA regular season ended a focus battle, the Nets defeated the Pelicans 120-105 at home to avoid losing streak. Irving was absent from the game and Durant left with a left knee sprain in the second quarter. The Net led by 28 points at halftime, with the team leading the biggest point difference at halftime this season. Led by Harden and Mills in the second half, the Nets managed to win.
Statistics:
Pelicans: Jones 13 points, 4 boards, Ingram 22 points, 4 boards and 8 assists, Varanciunas 13 points and 5 boards, Hart 14 points and 11 boards, Graham 10 points and 4 assists, Hayes 11 points, Walker 10 points;
Nets: Durant 12 points, 3 boards and 2 assists, Edwards 16 points and 6 boards, Sharp 12 points and 10 boards, Mills 21 points, Harden 27 points, 8 boards and 15 assists, Thomas 20 points and 6 boards, Griffin 6 points, 5 boards and 6 assists;
Focus Lens:
Durant was pushed on his left knee by teammate Brown and left the field injured;
In this game, Harden's career turnover rose to the first in NBA history, surpassing Ray Allen's 4455 times. At the same time, Harden's free throw shooting number rose to the tenth in history.
Contest Review:
In the first quarter, Durant scored on a jumper, Graham responded from mid-range, and Mills and Harden scored seven straight points. Ingram hit a three-pointer, Durant hit two free throws and Valanciunas hit the shot. After Ingram threw a shot, Mills let go of the basket, Durant broke through to play 2+1, Harden helped Sharp dunk, Durant hit a three-pointer, and the Nets advantage came to 11 points. Hart also played color on the outside, hardening the basket after Graham scored a three-pointer and Thomas scored on a jumper. Durant and Thomas threw shots, Walker hit a three-pointer, Thomas hit a three-pointer, Alvarado hit a 2+1, Durant hit a three-point whistle, and the first quarter ended, and the Nets led the Pelicans 35-22.
In the second quarter, Thomas scored on a jumper, Sharp followed up with a layup to score, Edwards scored five consecutive points, Sharp scored a basket, and the Nets extended their advantage 11-0. Hart made two free throws to stop the bleeding, then he suffered a technical foul, Walker and Thomas made a layup, Harden hit both free throws, and Durant was injured and went to the dressing room. Hayes hit a 2+1, Herbert Jones hit a jumper and Edwards hit a three-pointer. Ingram scored consecutive layups and three-pointers, mills and Harden hit three-pointers, and the point difference reached 30 points. Griffin hit both free throws, Ingram scored on a jumper, and the first half ended with the Nets leading the Pelicans 69-41.
In the third quarter, Herbert Jones hit a three-pointer, Thomas scored a layup, and Herbert Jones hit a layup. Ingram continued to close the deficit, with Hart hitting 2+1 and the Pelicans going strong 14-2. Mills stopped the bleeding 2+1, Ingram hit one of two free throws, Varan hooked up and Thomas hit a jumper. Sharp threw in, Graham hit a three-pointer, Hart broke through and Thomas made a jump shot. Ingram scored on a back-up jumper, Thomas scored on a layup, Harden scored 2+1, and Hayes scored with a dunk. After Harden made a basket, Alvarado hit a three-pointer, Harden hit two free throws, Temple and Griffin scored again, and Mills and Griffin pulled the gap to 20 points again. Ingram hit two free throws and ended in the third quarter to give the Nets a 95-77 lead over the Pelicans.
In the fourth quarter, Mills hit all three free throws, and then he hit a three-pointer, and Varan scored four consecutive points on a layup and a layup. Graham counter-attacked and Harden's aircut was steady, and then he hit a three-pointer to stop the Pelicans. Herbert Jones slammed his hands, Bruce Brown pulled in, Valanciunas hit the shot, and Walker threw the ball to score. Since then, the Nets have maintained a lead and successfully won the victory.
Two teams starting lineup:
Nets starters: Durant, Edwards, Sharp, Mills, Harden;
Pelicans starters: Jones, Ingram, Varan, Graham, Hart;