Kyrie Irving scores career-best 60 points, Nets rout Magic 150-108

Kyrie Irving made it two nights in a row with a 60-point scorer within the NBA.

A 41-point first half hadn’t been seen in virtually 20 years.

“It simply exhibits you we’re on our technique to historical past,” Irving stated.

Irving scored a career-high 60 factors, most within the Nets’ NBA historical past, to steer Brooklyn to a 150-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night time.

Irving shot 20 for 31, together with 8 of 12 on 3-pointers, in 35 minutes. He made 12 of 13 free throws in matching the highest-scoring recreation within the NBA this season, performed only a night time earlier by Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Cities towards San Antonio.

“The night time after Karl Cities had an unimaginable efficiency, after which to have Kyrie do it the following night time, the league is in an incredible place proper now,” teammate Kevin Durant stated. “We’re seeing quite a lot of expertise displayed each night time, and this was one of many elite ones.”

Irving and Durant turned the primary teammates in NBA historical past to submit 50-point performances in consecutive video games. Durant scored 53 factors in a win towards the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Irving scored 41 factors within the first half, essentially the most within the first two quarters since Kobe Bryant had 42 towards Washington on March 28, 2003.

“It was simply concerning the staff actually, simply getting within the move,” he stated. “That is the true purity of this recreation, doing it effectively on each ends of the ground and popping out with a W.”

The guard left the sport after hitting a protracted 3-pointer with 8:33 remaining and Brooklyn main 128-94.

Enjoying in solely his nineteenth recreation of the season as a result of he is not eligible to play residence video games due to New York Metropolis’s mandate requiring vaccination towards COVID-19, Irving reached the 50-point mark by spinning a layup off the glass with 5:02 left within the third quarter.

“A number of photographs I most likely should not have taken. Robust ones, with double-teams and triple-teams coming,” he stated. “However so long as I can do it with a smile on my face and my teammates weren’t too indignant with me, it was worthwhile.”

It marked the sixth 50-point recreation of Irving’s NBA profession and the sixteenth 50-point recreation within the league this season, together with two apiece by Irving, Durant, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston’s Jayson Tatum.

He went on to cross Deron Williams’ Nets document of 57 factors. Irving has 4 40-point video games with the Nets and Durant has two.

Irving scored 50 factors final Tuesday in a 132-121 win at Charlotte. His earlier profession excessive was 57 factors for Cleveland at San Antonio on March 3, 2015.

Irving had 16 factors and three assists within the Nets’ 48-point first quarter, during which they shot 74% (20 for 27) together with 5 of 6 on 3s.

“When a man has a recreation going like that, there’s nothing he can do mistaken,” stated heart Andre Drummond. “He was rolling, so it was enjoyable to observe.”

The Nets led 86-56 after Irving’s 41-point first half. He was 14 for 19.

“There’s instances he is taking pictures over two folks,” stated Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “You attempt to double-team him, he is sensible sufficient to know when to go and when to not go. He is quick in transition so you’ll be able to’t pace up and attempt to deny him. They’re setting backscreens. He is artful sufficient and he is seen each protection and he is aware of easy methods to play with a tempo. That makes it onerous.”

Durant added 19 factors within the Nets’ fourth straight win.

Cole Anthony had 19 factors and 7 assists for Orlando.

TIP-INS

Nets: Brooklyn shot 16 for 27 from 3-point vary, with Patty Mills hitting 5 of seven. . . . G Cam Thomas (again contusion) didn’t play, and G Seth Curry (left ankle) missed a second straight recreation. Coach Steve Nash stated each gamers may be out there Wednesday night time towards Dallas. … The Nets gained three of 4 towards the Magic this season. Neither Durant nor Irving performed within the loss.

Magic: G Jalen Suggs didn’t play for the third time in 5 video games after re-injuring his proper ankle on Sunday night time. … The Magic introduced that F Jonathan Isaac won’t play this season, marking the second straight season Isaac has missed completely since tearing his left ACL on Aug. 2, 2020.

UP NEXT

Nets: Play at residence Wednesday night time towards Dallas.

Magic: Play at residence Thursday night time towards Detroit.