A few hours before his own game -- lost -- against Phoenix, Lakers superstar LeBron James also spoke out against the status of the Nets leader: "It makes absolutely no sense," he said. tweeted in front of the images of the player in the stands.

Under New York health rules, Kyrie Irving cannot play any game in the city, whether at home, or, like Sunday night, at the Knicks' Madison Square Garden, but since the easing of the measures, he can follow encounters as a spectator.

"It's ridiculous," Durant said after the game.

"It doesn't make sense. They're scared for our safety? At the start of the season, people didn't understand what was going on, but now it's ridiculous and stupid. So hopefully, Eric (Adams), that you will understand what is happening”, he added to the mayor of NYC, who for the time being maintains the vaccination obligation for all employees in his city.

On the floor, Kevin Durant also distinguished himself with a match as sharp as his words: 53 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and a decisive three-pointer 56 seconds from the end, to put his team in the lead, which eventually won 110-107.

It's the eighth time in his career that Durant has exceeded 50 points in a game, and the second this season.

After this third consecutive success, Brooklyn remains eighth in the East, four places ahead of the Knicks.

New record for LeBron James

In the other match scheduled for midday, between two teams both in form and fifth in their conference, Dallas won in Boston (95-92), somewhat spoiling the celebration of the retirement of the jersey of the former All-Star, NBA champion in 2008 with the Celtics, Kevin Garnett.

Former All-Star Kevin Garnett at his jersey retirement ceremony on March 13, 2022 in Boston.

Maddie Meyer GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Once again, the Mavs were able to count on their Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic, despite being nine points behind at the break.

Author of 26 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, Doncic offered the basket of victory to Spencer Dinwiddie (18 pts) 11 seconds from time.

Another shock expected in the evening, the clash between the Lakers and Phoenix turned very largely in favor of the Suns, winners 140-111 of LeBron James and his teammates, decidedly very disappointing.

The only small consolation for the Lakers superstar: he became the first player in NBA history to compile 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists.

LeBron James during the Lakers' loss to the Suns on March 13, 2022 in Phoenix.

Chris Coduto GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

With 54 wins and 14 losses, Phoenix remains well ahead of the Western Conference – and even of the entire NBA –, ahead of Memphis (47 v.-22 d.), winner 125-118 in Oklahoma City and far, very far ahead of the Lakers, 9th in the West and for the moment only qualified for the play-off accession play-offs (29 v.-38 d.).

Note among the other meetings of the evening, Philadelphia's 116-114 overtime victory in Orlando, with Joel Embiid on 35 points and 16 rebounds and James Harden on 26 points (despite a pitiful 5/19 on shots), or the 47 points from point guard Trae Young in Atlanta's 131-128 win over Indiana.

© 2022 AFP