Kyrie Irving (42 points) and the Brooklyn Nets won Tuesday’s game, 118-105 (box score), but there was a lot to like for the visiting Houston Rockets — starting with young guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green.
Porter scored a season-high 36 points on 13-of-26 shooting (50.0%) and 6-of-14 from 3-point range (42.9%), while Green added to his historic rookie streak with a fifth consecutive game of 30 points or more. Rookie big man Alperen Sengun helped out with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on the interior, including 7 offensive rebounds.
Ultimately, those performances still weren’t enough to win in Brooklyn versus a Nets squad led by two future Hall of Famers. Irving had 42 points on 13-of-24 shooting (54.2%), including 8-of-16 on 3-pointers (50.0%), while Kevin Durant added 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Nets (41-38) had plenty of incentive to win, with the victory moving them up to No. 8 in the tightly bunched Eastern Conference playoff race.
Meanwhile, the Rockets (20-60) moved into the pole position (when coupled with Orlando’s upset win) in the 2022 NBA draft race.
Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.
