Irving stars in Nets' NBA win over Bucks

Kyrie Irving has given another tantalising glimpse of what could be, scoring a season-high 38 point to help slumping Brooklyn beat NBA defending champions Milwaukee 126-23.

Irving was playing just his 15th game of the season - the Nets have played 61.

He still can't play in home games because he hasn't met New York City's vaccine requirement.

But he's been outstanding the times he has taken the floor, scoring 27 points in each of his last four appearances.

His performance was key as Brooklyn triumphed despite big games for the Bucks from Bobby Portis (30 points and 12 rebounds) Giannis Antetokounmpo (29 points, 14 rebounds and six assists) and Khris Middleton (25 points).

It helped the Nets snap a two-game skid and win for just the third time in 16 games.

With Irving so often unavailable and Kevin Durant (knee) out since January 15, the Nets (32-29) have tumbled to eighth in the eastern conference.

But with Durant nearing a return and the arrival of Australian star Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond in the trade for James Harden plus the signing of guard Goran Dragic, there is reason to hope for a strong run at the playoffs.

"We got together as a group after the All-Star break," Irving said.

"We put some goals on the board, just a daily reminder of what we're gearing up for, just the things that we can control and just focusing on those things."

When Simmons plays his first game of the season remains unclear with coach Steve Nash revealing he's delaing with back soreness while preparing for his return to action.

"It's not like an injury," Nash said. "It's just kind of like as he's returning to play, his back's flared up a little. It's not like a long-term thing."

In Chicago, Ja Morant scored a career-high 46