No. 3 Duke basketball delivered a crushing 106-70 victory over Stanford on Saturday, led by Tyrese Proctor’s explosive 23-point performance. The Blue Devils cemented their ACC dominance with a season-best 62.5% shooting accuracy and 14 three-pointers against a faltering Stanford squad struggling to stay in postseason contention.
Proctor tied his career-high with five three-pointers, while freshman phenom Cooper Flagg dazzled with 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Duke’s offense never relented after an early 8-0 run in the first half, stretching their halftime lead to 49-34. By the final buzzer, four Blue Devils scored double digits: Khaman Maluach (17 points), Sion James (14), and Caleb Foster (10) rounded out the dominant display.
Critical factors in Duke’s victory:
- Historic shooting efficiency (39/62 from the field)
- Balanced scoring with six players contributing 8+ points
- Fast-break execution: 21 points off turnovers
Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud fought valiantly with 19 points and seven rebounds, but the Cardinal have now lost four of their last five ACC games. Once promising NCAA Tournament hopes now hinge on urgent adjustments before Saturday’s clash against California.
Duke’s emphatic response to their February 3 loss against Clemson continues to impress. “This team thrives under pressure,” said Coach Jon Scheyer in a postgame presser. Since the defeat, they’ve outscored opponents by 28.5 points per game while climbing to 14-1 in conference play.
“When Duke shoots over 60%, they’re virtually unbeatable. This performance sets a terrifying precedent for March.” – AP Basketball Analyst
The Blue Devils next face Virginia on Monday, aiming to tighten their grip on the ACC’s top seed. With Proctor and Flagg hitting their stride, Duke basketball appears primed for a deep postseason run.
