ORLANDO, FL – The Orlando Magic once again faced off against one of the NBA East’s top teams, the Brooklyn Nets. let’s just get right to it, it was no contest.
The night, however, belonged to Kyrie Irving, who put on a scoring display that you don’t get to see everyday. Irving scored 60 points in the game, scoring pretty much at will, and setting a Nets record for points as well the highnest point total scored at Amway Center since the joint opened in 2010.
The Magic were unable to stop Brooklyn, with their defense allowing them to shoot 60% on field goals for the game, as well as 59% from deep.
“Kyrie Irving. At the end of the day, that’s what it was,” Said Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley “He was comfortable on the floor, and he’s a great basketball player. What he did tonight, he showed it. You’ve got to tip your hat to him, tip your hat to their team (and what they’ve done). He’s a special player.”
The Nets used their powerhouse offense to cruise to a 23-16 lead in the first half, with Kyrie Irving scoring 11 points and shooting 3-3 from 3-point land.
Markelle Fultz came into the game after the 6th minute, and with Brooklyn focusing on him, Orlando managed to take advantage of open three point shooters to close in on the Nets.
The Nets got pretty much what they wanted and ended the first half with a 86-56 lead.
Irving put on a clinic, shooting 6 to 7 from deep for 41 points in the first half. Kevin Durant had a pretty pedestrian first half, scoring only 10 points, but he didn’t need to do much, except for get it to Irving, which accounted for most of his 6 assists in the half.
Orlando managed to shoot only 37% from the field in the first half, while Brooklyn shot 67%, with 38 points in the paint. the Nets dominated fast break points in the first half 12-3.
It was ugly, with an other half to go.
Orlando came out in the second half shooting fire. They manage to dig into the Nets lead, with three’s by Anthony, and Franz Wagner, plusshot free throws by Carter Jr., taking the score down to 86-66 and the 10:06 mark in the third quarter.
Kyrie and Durant are wreaking havoc on offense, but the balls were not dropping early in the third.
Mo Bamba got loose in the third and tried to dunk on Andrae Drummond. the ball was completely rejected, had no chance. He drew his fifth foul right after that and was subbed out for Chuma Okeke. Drummond scored 10 points.
Irving went on a tear in the third quarter, scoring at will, and eventually hitting 60 points as they started the 4th quarter.
Cole Anthony tried his best to push his team, scoring 19 points and shooting 50% from deep, but it wasn’t even close to enough.
The Magic return to the court on Thursday to face the Detroit Pistons.
