Irving scores career-best 60 points, Nets rout Magic

Orlando, Fla. (AP) — Kyrie Irving made it two nights in a row with a 60-point scorer in the NBA.

A 41-point first half hadn't been seen in almost two decades.

“It just shows you we’re on our way to history,” Irving said.

Irving scored a career-high 60 points, most in the Nets’ NBA history, to lead Brooklyn to a 150-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Irving shot 20 for 31, including 8 of 12 on 3-pointers, in 35 minutes. He made 12 of 13 free throws in matching the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, done just a night earlier by Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns against San Antonio.

“The night after Karl Towns had an incredible performance, and then to have Kyrie do it the next night, the league is in an amazing place right now,” teammate Kevin Durant said. “We’re seeing a lot of talent displayed every night, and this was one of the elite ones.”

Irving and Durant became the first teammates in NBA history to post 50-point performances in consecutive games. Durant scored 53 points in a win against the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Irving scored 41 points in the first half, the most in the first two quarters since Kobe Bryant had 42 against Washington on March 28, 2003.

“It was just about the team really, just getting in the flow,” he said. “That's the true purity of this game, doing it efficiently on both ends of the floor and coming out with a W.”

The guard left the game after hitting a long 3-pointer with 8:33 remaining and Brooklyn leading 128-94.

Playing in only his 19th game of the season because he isn't eligible to play home games because of New York City's mandate requiring vaccination against COVID-19, Irving reached the 50-point mark by spinning a layup off the glass with 5:02 left in the