NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
This game didn’t start off all that well for Duke. First, Patrick Ngongba was listed as a game-time decision, and he did warm up, but didn’t play. And then, partway through the first half, Caleb Foster fell to his knees in the lane and didn’t seem to move.
We didn’t understand what happened, but thought that he had probably been concussed. He looked stunned.
Advertisement
As it turned out, he had a foot injury and was done for the night, and probably longer (we’ll get back to that).
As it turned out, even without two starters, Duke was by far the superior team, winning 76-61 – and it wasn’t that close.
It was close for much of the first half and into the second. Duke-UNC games tend to follow a pattern – one team shoots out in front on adrenaline, then the other team catches up, usually 5-7 minutes in, and things are more or less even the rest of the way.
Well, that pattern held for a few minutes.
There were a few early lead changes, but Duke took the lead back quickly, building a 12-point lead at 27-15.
Advertisement
Foster went down with 4:51 left and Duke up 30-22.
UNC cut into the lead, shaving it down to 29-37 right after halftime before cutting it to just 41-40 on a Luka Bogavac three at the 19:16 mark. And that was about the last gasp for the Tar Heels.
And then Duke took over.
Again.
First, Cameron Boozer hit a three, then Isaiah Evans got one, and suddenly the lead was back to 7 at 47-40.
UNC pushed back to down 3 at 47-44 before Duke got some separation again. Cayden Boozer got a three, then Dame Sarr got one of his own from the corner.
Then Maliq Brown got a steal and Sarr hit another three to give Duke a 53-44 lead.
Advertisement
The Dame Sarr Show continued as the freshman from Italy got a steal and dunked it.
After that, Maliq Brown hit a rare three and shortly after that, Cameron Boozer powered in a layup that put the Blue Devils up 60-44. It wasn’t enough to assume victory, but things were trending in the right direction.
Evans hit a three at the 10:59 mark…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/no-mas-down-two-starters-043613108.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-03-08 04:36:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
