Durant has 33 points to lead the Nets past the Pelicans, 108-102

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving missed 32 combined shots and weren’t one bit bothered.

Durant had 33 points and 10 rebounds, Irving scored seven of 19 in the 1:12 Final, and the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans 108-102 on Friday night.

“Our growth as a team just sees some of the leaders on our team, myself included, being ready,” said Irving, whose 3-footer at 29 with 44 seconds left gave the Nets a lead. of 106-100 and condemned New Orleans to just its fifth home loss this season. “That’s probably where I feel like we’re making incredible progress in games like this.”

TJ Warren scored 15 points for Brooklyn and Royce O’Neale added 14, including a 3-pointer with 2:27 left.

“There will come a time when the shots won’t fall – like tonight,” said Durant, who shot 9 of 26 but also had 11 free throws. “I liked how we kept grinding regardless.

“You always have to go out there and lock down the defensive side of the ball,” Durant continued. “It’s the type of games you want to play to learn your team and understand them even more, because you’re a totally different team when your shots don’t come in. So that was a good test for us.”