Irving scores 50 as Nets snap losing streak

Kyrie Irving hit nine 3-pointers and scored a season-high 50 points, and the Brooklyn Nets snapped a four-game skid with a 132-121 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Andre Drummond dominated inside, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Brooklyn, which got back to .500 on the season and moved into sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, breaking a tie with the Hornets.

Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier each finished with 30 points for Charlotte, which had its two-game win streak snapped. LaMelo Ball added 24 points and seven assists.

Kevin Durant had a quiet night by his lofty standards, finishing with 14 points.

But he didn’t have to do much lifting with Irving taking control most of the game. Irving finished 15 of 19 from the field and 9 of 12 from beyond the arc. He also was 11 of 13 from the line.

Brooklyn led by 34 points in the second half before the Hornets cut the lead to 13 with less than four minutes left in the game. But Irving, as he’d done throughout the second half, knocked down a jumper to thwart the rally.

Elsewhere, Darius Garland scored a career-high 41 points to lead Cleveland past Indiana, 127-124.

The Pacers went ahead 124-122 with 40 seconds remaining when Malcolm Brogdon was credited with a basket after Evan Mobley was called for goaltending.

Mobley then tied the game on a putback before Garland put the Cavs ahead with his free throws.

The shorthanded Phoenix Suns had 21 points apiece from DeAndre Ayton and Landry Shamet as the league-leaders defeated the Magic 102-99 in Orlando.

The Suns were playing without star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker, as well as forward Cameron Johnson. (AP)