No. 4 Duke men’s basketball returns home for a contest against Incarnate Word Tuesday evening. After 20 minutes, the Blue Devils still have some work to do, only leading the Cardinals 28-21:
Maliq Brown out
Duke is missing arguably its best defender, Maliq Brown, who is sidelined with an injured toe. Brown’s rebonding, stealing and shot-blocking prowess has been crucial for the Blue Devils this season. His impact was on full display during Sunday night’s game against Louisville, where he dominated the boards with 11 rebounds. This required Duke to lean more on Patrick Ngongba II and Mason Gillis, but starter Khaman Maluach had an impactful first 20 minutes in Brown’s absence.
Slow starts continue
The Blue Devils were off to a slow start once again, shooting just 3-of-12 from the field in the first five minutes. Adding to their early struggles, they had three early turnovers compared to the Cardinals' one, disrupting their offensive rhythm. It looked like Duke would turn it around when Tyrese Proctor drained a three to put the Blue Devils up by five, but they could not capitalize on the momentum. Another detriment to Duke’s rhythm early on was the lack of rebounds early. The Blue Devils tower over the Cardinals, but the visitors were still able to tally seven offensive rebounds.
Sloppy play
Turnovers plagued the Blue Devils in the first half, as they let up the ball seven times, stalling their offense and allowing Incarnate Word to capitalize on transition opportunities. For a team that thrives on efficiency and ball movement, typically averaging 10.2 turnovers per game, the unforced errors were costly, making it difficult for Duke to sustain momentum.
Cold from deep
This was a low scoring half. Incarnate Word entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in 3-point shooting, boasting an impressive 43% clip from beyond the arc. However, the Cardinals struggled early, shooting just 18.2% from the 3-point line. This either highlights an off night for Incarnate Word’s shooters or serves as a testament to Duke’s high pressure defense. The Blue Devils were not much better. Typically averaging 35.4% from downtown, Duke was held to 2-of-13 for 15.4%, and it also shot a measly 33.3% from the field.
Player of the half: Khaman Maluach
Maluach was instrumental in Duke maintaining a lead this half. The freshman center was everywhere, especially on the boards. He had five rebounds in total, grabbing four offensive boards and capitalizing on them. He finished the half with 12 points, leading the Blue Devils. The Rumbek, South Sudan, native was efficient from the line, making four of his five attempts from the charity stripe.
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