FLORIDA – Kyrie Irving carried Brooklyn Nets with his career game as they defeated Orlando Magic, 150-108, in the 2021-2022 NBA Season on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at Amway Center in Orlando.
Irving waxed hot with career-best and Nets franchise record 60 points, including eight triples , to go with six rebounds, four assists and four steals as the Nets cruised to its fourth straight win for 36-33 slate.
Irving’s scoring feat tied the single-game record for most points by a player in the 2021-2022 season. This was done by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns in their 149-139 win over San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
Irving was scorching since the opening period as the Nets jumped to a 48-30. He went on with his hot shooting in the second quarter as he finished with 41 markers at the half and Brooklyn on top, 86-56.
The former NBA top-overall pick was held by the defense in the third quarter before unloading consecutive points to start the fourth quarter to complete his career game.
Kevin Durant chipped in 19 points and seven assists, while Patty Mills and Kessler Edwards contributed 15 and 14 markers, respectively, for Brooklyn.
Cole Anthony and Wendell Carter Jr. led the way with 19 and 18 points, respectively, while Moritz Wagner had double-double 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Magic dropped to 18-52.
Meanwhile, Max Strus came alive in the fourth quarter as Miami Heat (46-24) averted upset defeat at the hands of Detroit Pistons (18-51) with a 105-98 triumph at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
Playing in place of injured Jimmy Butler, Strus unloaded all of his 16 points total in the fourth quarter to pull away for the Heat after Pistons snatched an 82-81 lead early in the period.
Tyler Herro led the way for the Heat with 29 points, including a crucial triples with two minutes left that gave Miami a five-point lead. Bam Adebayo supplied 16 markers to go with eight boards.
In other results, Phoenix Suns (55-14) stayed on top in the West with a 131-115 triumph over New Orleans Pelicans (28-41), while Memphis Grizzlies (48-22) hold off Indiana Pacers (23-47), 135-102.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 150 — Irving 60, Durant 19, Mills 15, Edwards 14, Claxton 12, Drummond 10, Brown 10, Johnson 6, Griffin 4, Dragic 0.
ORLANDO 108 — Anthony 19, Carter 18, M. Wagner 17, F. Wagner 16, Okeke 9, Bamba 8, Hampton 6, Fultz 5, Brazdeikis 5, Schofield 3, Ross 2.
Quarterscores: 48-30, 86-56, 116-89, 150-108./PN
