{"id":182702,"date":"2021-02-19T08:55:06","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T05:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nets-pick-up-statement-win-over-defending-champ-lakers\/"},"modified":"2021-02-19T08:55:06","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T05:55:06","slug":"nets-pick-up-statement-win-over-defending-champ-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nets-pick-up-statement-win-over-defending-champ-lakers\/","title":{"rendered":"#Nets pick up statement win over defending champ Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Nets pick up statement win over defending champ Lakers<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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If Thursday really was a potential NBA Finals preview, the Nets sure hope the real thing goes the same exact way.<\/p>\n

Brooklyn cruised to a 109-98 win over LeBron James and the defending champion Lakers in a nationally televised marquee matchup Thursday night at Staples Center.<\/p>\n

The Nets didn\u2019t have superstar Kevin Durant \u2014 named the captain of the Eastern Conference All-Stars before the game<\/a> \u2014 while Los Angeles was without Anthony Davis. But there was plenty of star power and more than enough highlight reel-plays \u2014 a few more on the Nets\u2019 ledger, with Brooklyn leading by as much as 25.<\/p>\n

James Harden \u2014 who just missed being named an All-Star starter \u2014 was sublime again, with 23 points, a game-high 11 assists and six rebounds. The Nets (19-12) won their fifth straight and improved to 8-1 against top-five teams in each conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re obviously different without KD, but every bit is potent. And we know what James is capable of, and he\u2019s having a terrific season,\u201d Lakers coach Frank Vogel warned beforehand. \u201cSo it\u2019s going to be a little bit of a pick-your-poison, and we want to bring enough help to slow guys down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kyrie
Kyrie Irving defends a driving LeBron James during the Nets\u2019 109-98 win over the Lakers.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It didn\u2019t work. Kyrie Irving \u2014 also named an All-Star starter \u2014 had 16 points and seven rebounds. Joe Harris scored 21 on 7-of-10 shooting from behind the arc, while Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot \u2014 who had been questionable with a sore knee \u2014 added 15 on a season-high 5-of-8 from deep.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying with those guys makes the game a lot easier,\u201d Harris said in postgame a TV interview. \u201cWe have a lot of actions where these guys are the first action but the second is me coming off a pin down or a flare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve definitely improved here of late in this win streak, and a lot of it is on the defensive end. \u2026 It makes the offensive stuff come a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

LeBron James \u2014 named the Western Conference captain \u2014 had a game-high 32 points. But other than Kyle Kuzma (16 points,) he got precious little support, with Brooklyn holding the Lakers to 8-of-30 from deep.<\/p>\n

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