Irving scores 29, Nets beat depleted Raptors 112-98
TORONTO (AP) Kyrie Irving scored 19 of his 29 points in the third quarter, Nic Claxton had 14 points and 12 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets beat the short-handed Toronto Raptors 112-98 on Wednesday night.
Toronto held Kevin Durant to 12 points but still lost to the Nets for the fifth time in seven meetings after winning 21 of the previous 25.
Durant scored his 26,074th career point in the third quarter, passing Kevin Garnett (26,071) for 18th place on the NBA's all-time list.
Royce O'Neale made a career-high five 3-pointers and scored 15 points, and Ben Simmons had 14 for the Nets, who bounced back after losing Tuesday at depleted Philadelphia, which was missing Joel Embiid and James Harden.
''We're in the business of winning,'' Irving said. ''We'll take this one, especially after last night's loss, and the whole internet going up in an uproar in terms of how embarrassed we should be, which is true. We just wanted to make sure we paid attention to detail tonight. We came out and responded.''
Brooklyn has won three of four, including two of three since Irving returned from a suspension for tweeting a link to an antisemitic film.
The Nets shot 17 for 38 from 3-point range, a season high for made 3-pointers. The Raptors finished 7 for 29 from distance, matching their fewest made 3-pointers of the season.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 19 points and Chris Boucher had 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds for the Raptors. O.G. Anunoby scored 15 points and Thad Young had 12.
Toronto had 10 healthy players, with regulars Scottie Barnes (left knee) and Fred VanVleet (non-COVID illness) joining All-Star Pascal Siakam (strained right adductor) on the sidelines.
''We feel like we could have played better,'' Anunoby said. ''We don't make the injuries an excuse.''
Irving scored 26 points in the second half, the highest-scoring half by a Nets player this season. He attempted just three shots in the first half, making one.
''It doesn't take too much,'' Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said of Irving. ''He's gifted, talented, and can score on any court. He got a couple to go his way and once that happens, off you go.''
With the Nets ahead 52-51 at halftime, Irving connected on his first seven field-goal attempts in the third.
''That's what we want him to do,'' Simmons said. ''Just be himself, have that confidence to come out and take those shots and be who he is. He's an incredible player, incredible teammate.''
Brooklyn took a 91-76 lead into the fourth.
Irving had two higher-scoring halves last season. He scored 41 in the first half at Orlando on March 15, finishing with 60 points. That came one week after Irving scored 30 in the second half at Charlotte, finishing with 50 against the Hornets.
TIP-INS
Nets: Brooklyn recorded an assist on 12 of its 15 field goals in the first quarter. The Nets finished with 32 assists, one shy of their season high. ... G Seth Curry (left ankle) missed his second straight game. ... F Yuta Watanabe (right hamstring) was not available.
Raptors: Toronto was also without F Otto Porter Jr. (dislocated toe, left foot), G Dalano Banton (left ankle), F Precious Achiuwa (right ankle), F Justin Champagnie (back) and G-F Ron Harper Jr. (G-League). ... Siakam missed his ninth game but could return next week. . VanVleet also missed games because of a non-COVID illness on Nov. 12 and 14. ... Juancho Hernangomzez had 10 points and 10 rebounds. ... Toronto's 52 rebounds matched a season high.
CUDDLY COAT
Rapper Drake arrived at his courtside seat wearing a hooded white winter jacket with two teddy bears attached to the front.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Indiana on Friday night.
Raptors: Host Dallas on Saturday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nic Claxton vs. Thaddeus Young (Ben Simmons gains possession) | ||
| 11:50 |  | Royce O'Neale turnover (lost ball) (Thaddeus Young steals) | ||
| 11:46 | | O.G. Anunoby turnover (bad pass) (Royce O'Neale steals) | ||
| 11:39 | | Ben Simmons misses two point running finger roll layup | ||
| 11:40 | | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | ||
| 11:40 | | Thaddeus Young shooting foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 11:40 | | +1 | Nic Claxton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 |
| 11:40 | | +1 | Nic Claxton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 |
| 11:25 | | O.G. Anunoby misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Christian Koloko offensive rebound | ||
| 11:12 | | +3 | Malachi Flynn makes three point stepback jump shot | 2-3 |
| 10:48 | | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point stepback jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 5-3 |
| 10:21 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:19 | | Thaddeus Young offensive rebound | ||
| 10:18 | | +3 | Malachi Flynn makes three point jump shot (Thaddeus Young assists) | 5-6 |
| 10:16 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:03 | | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:00 | | Thaddeus Young defensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Thaddeus Young misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:41 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point turnaround bank hook shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 7-6 |
| 9:12 | | Nic Claxton blocks Malachi Flynn's two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 9:12 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 9:09 | | Kyrie Irving shooting foul (Gary Trent Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 9:09 | | +1 | Gary Trent Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-7 |
| 9:09 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:07 | | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | ||
| 8:59 | | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 10-7 |
| 8:41 | | O.G. Anunoby misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:38 | | O.G. Anunoby offensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | +2 | O.G. Anunoby makes two point putback layup | 10-9 |
| 8:29 | | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 13-9 |
| 8:15 | | Royce O'Neale shooting foul (Gary Trent Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 8:15 | | +1 | Gary Trent Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-10 |
| 8:15 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 8:12 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point running finger roll layup | 15-10 |
| 7:55 | | Nic Claxton blocks Christian Koloko's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 7:53 | | Christian Koloko offensive rebound | ||
| 7:53 | | Christian Koloko misses two point putback layup | ||
| 7:53 | | Christian Koloko offensive rebound | ||
| 7:53 | | Kevin Durant shooting foul (Christian Koloko draws the foul) | ||
| 7:53 | | +1 | Christian Koloko makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-11 |
| 7:53 | | +1 | Christian Koloko makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-12 |
| 7:41 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point cutting dunk (Ben Simmons assists) | 17-12 |
| 7:28 | | Christian Koloko turnover (lost ball) (Ben Simmons steals) | ||
| 7:21 | | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:17 | | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | ||
| 7:13 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point cutting layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | 19-12 |
| 6:54 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:51 | | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | ||
| 6:48 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point running dunk (Royce O'Neale assists) | 21-12 |
| 6:48 | | Raptors 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:39 | | Juancho Hernangomez turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 6:28 | | Juancho Hernangomez personal foul (Royce O'Neale draws the foul) | ||
| 6:19 | | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Ben Simmons assists) | 24-12 |
| 5:58 | | +2 | O.G. Anunoby makes two point driving hook shot | 24-14 |
| 5:39 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point cutting dunk (Ben Simmons assists) | 26-14 |
| 5:20 | | O.G. Anunoby turnover (lost ball) (Royce O'Neale steals) | ||
| 5:07 | | Royce O'Neale turnover (bad pass) (O.G. Anunoby steals) | ||
| 5:04 | | +2 | O.G. Anunoby makes two point running dunk | 26-16 |
| 4:45 | | Edmond Sumner turnover (bad pass) (Malachi Flynn steals) | ||
| 4:32 | | Edmond Sumner blocks Juancho Hernangomez's two point cutting layup | ||
| 4:32 | | Chris Boucher offensive rebound | ||
| 4:32 | | Ben Simmons shooting foul (Chris Boucher draws the foul) | ||
| 4:32 | | +1 | Chris Boucher makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-17 |
| 4:32 | | +1 | Chris Boucher makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-18 |
| 4:18 | | Joe Harris misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:15 | | O.G. Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 4:07 | | O.G. Anunoby misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:04 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:58 | | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point running jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 29-18 |
| 3:44 | | Juancho Hernangomez misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:41 | | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | ||
| 3:25 | | Nic Claxton misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:22 | | Juancho Hernangomez defensive rebound | ||
| 3:14 | | +2 | O.G. Anunoby makes two point driving hook shot (Malachi Flynn assists) | 29-20 |
| 3:14 | | Edmond Sumner shooting foul (O.G. Anunoby draws the foul) | ||
| 3:14 | | +1 | O.G. Anunoby makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-21 |
| 3:01 | | Kevin Durant turnover (bad pass) (Juancho Hernangomez steals) | ||
| 2:51 | | +2 | O.G. Anunoby makes two point driving layup (Thaddeus Young assists) | 29-23 |
| 2:37 | | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 32-23 |
| 2:24 | | Chris Boucher misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:22 | | Joe Harris defensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | Kevin Durant turnover (bad pass) (Juancho Hernangomez steals) | ||
| 2:03 | | O.G. Anunoby misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:00 | | Joe Harris defensive rebound | ||
| 1:43 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 34-23 |
| 1:27 | | Thaddeus Young misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 1:25 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 1:14 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving finger roll layup | 36-23 |
| 0:54 | | Thaddeus Young misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:52 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 0:47 | | +2 | Edmond Sumner makes two point running reverse layup (Cam Thomas assists) | 38-23 |
| 0:27 | | +3 | Jeff Dowtin Jr. makes three point jump shot (O.G. Anunoby assists) | 38-26 |
| 0:01 | | Edmond Sumner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Nets turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 0:00 | | Juancho Hernangomez misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 | | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 38-28 |
| 11:25 | | Thaddeus Young kicked ball violation | ||
| 11:19 | | Patty Mills misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:16 | | Jeff Dowtin Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:05 | | Jeff Dowtin Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:01 | | Juancho Hernangomez offensive rebound | ||
| 11:01 | | +2 | Juancho Hernangomez makes two point tip layup | 38-30 |
| 10:45 | | Joe Harris misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:42 | | Thaddeus Young defensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | +3 | Gary Trent Jr. makes three point running pullup jump shot | 38-33 |
| 10:25 | | Joe Harris misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:22 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 10:13 | | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 38-35 |
| 10:13 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:49 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:45 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | +2 | Juancho Hernangomez makes two point cutting layup (Thaddeus Young assists) | 38-37 |
| 9:15 | | Cam Thomas misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:13 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Thaddeus Young offensive rebound | ||
| 9:03 | | +2 | Thaddeus Young makes two point putback layup | 38-39 |
| 8:40 | | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point cutting dunk (Patty Mills assists) | 40-39 |
| 8:26 | | Jeff Dowtin Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:26 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 8:26 | | Cam Thomas personal foul (Loose ball) (Chris Boucher draws the foul) | ||
| 8:12 | | Juancho Hernangomez misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:11 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 8:12 | | Raptors turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 8:05 | | Patty Mills misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:01 | | Thaddeus Young defensive rebound | ||
| 7:45 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:40 | | Juancho Hernangomez offensive rebound | ||
| 7:38 | | Jeff Dowtin Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:38 | | Patty Mills defensive rebound | ||
| 7:20 | | Patty Mills turnover (bad pass) (Juancho Hernangomez steals) | ||
| 7:09 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:06 | | Markieff Morris defensive rebound | ||
| 7:03 | | Markieff Morris turnover (bad pass) (Chris Boucher steals) | ||
| 6:52 | | Chris Boucher misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:50 | | Nets defensive rebound | ||
| 6:38 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 6:35 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 6:27 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:24 | | Juancho Hernangomez offensive rebound | ||
| 6:13 | | +2 | Jeff Dowtin Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 40-41 |
| 6:13 | | Kyrie Irving shooting foul (Jeff Dowtin Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 6:13 | | +1 | Jeff Dowtin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-42 |
| 6:00 | | +3 | Markieff Morris makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 43-42 |
| 5:36 | | O.G. Anunoby offensive foul (Charge) (Ben Simmons draws the foul) | ||
| 5:36 | | O.G. Anunoby turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:36 | | Raptors 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:23 | | Cam Thomas misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:21 | | Markieff Morris offensive rebound | ||
| 5:11 | | Cam Thomas misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:07 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 4:55 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:52 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Markieff Morris misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:44 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 4:32 | | Malachi Flynn misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:31 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 4:31 | | Edmond Sumner personal foul (Loose ball) (Chris Boucher draws the foul) | ||
| 4:22 | | O.G. Anunoby turnover (lost ball) (Markieff Morris steals) | ||
| 4:19 | | Malachi Flynn shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 4:19 | | Cam Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:19 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:19 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-42 |
| 4:03 | | Malachi Flynn misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:02 | | Nets defensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 |