‘Who needs Kyrie?’ Nets’ silver lining in Irving trade as 21yo goes off in 47pt demolition: NBA Wrap

The Nets might need misplaced one in all their main lights in All-Star Kyrie Irving, however Brooklyn is rapidly discovering a silver lining in that bombshell commerce.

Youngster Cam Thomas has exploded for the second sport operating, backing up his 44 factors in opposition to the Wizards two days in the past with a monster 47-point effort in opposition to the LA Clippers.

Without the injured Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons, Thomas shot 15 of 29 from the ground together with 7-11 from deep, and added 4 rebounds and three assists in a career-best evening.

It made him the one Net to ever hit 44 or extra in consecutive video games, and the second-youngest to have back-to-back 40+ video games in NBA historical past.

Thomas hit the mark at simply second 21 years and 116 days previous, placing him behind solely LeBron James (21y 47d).

Kyrie Irving himself had two 40-plus video games all season earlier than his exit.

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While Thomas’ 44 factors impressed an epic comeback win over the Wizards final trip, the taking pictures guard’s unbelievable effort was not sufficient to do the identical in the present day, because the Clippers fought again from an eight-point deficit within the fourth quarter to expire 124-116 victors.

The Clippers had been up 99-93 with ten minutes to play within the fourth, earlier than the Nets scored 14-straight factors to steer by eight. Then the Clippers hit again with a seven-point run of their very own. Things went right down to the wire because the lead modified fingers twice extra.

But Paul George’s 29 factors and Kawhi Leonard’s 24 (with three rebounds and 6 assists) did sufficient at hand the Clippers victory. Ivica Zubac added 19 factors, 12 rebounds and three steals – with the Clippers racking up 11 steals tin complete to the Nets’ 4.

Nevertheless, Thomas’ dominance within the Nets’ two video games with out Irving has been a outstanding boon – particularly in comparison with his common of 8.5 factors per sport in his brief profession.

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