Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving couldn’t help but deceive LeBron James in the team’s 109-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, calling the current NBA champion for his free-throw skills .
At the start of the first quarter, with the Lakers losing by 3, James missed a technical free throw, though not at a critical moment – but Iriving took the opportunity to give his former teammate a friendly punch.
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“Is that your best free-throw pitcher?” Irving said with a smile.
The comment was not entirely wrong. James ranks 12th in the league in free throw percentages with 70.4 and a career percentage of 73.4.
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The Nets easily defeated the Lakers with few players on Thursday night for their fifth consecutive victory, the best of the season.
Irving had 16 points and seven rebounds, while James Harden scored 23 points. Joe Harris added 21 with six points from 3 points, but the Nets were still without Kevin Durant, who lost his third game in a row with a sprained left hamstring.
“Absence of [Anthony Davis] and our titular owner, Dennis]Schröder]is a big blow for us, “said James after the game.” But they are also losing important players. Neither team was at full strength. We just don’t play up to our capabilities tonight. Give them credit. “
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“We will see them in the future again with a healthy Lakers team,” said Irving. “This is what we wanted and hope for.”
LeBron James scored his 35,000th career point with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers.
The Nets are 4-0 on their West Coast trip. They will end with a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.