Kyrie Irving has 32 points, Nets beat Knicks for 9th straight time

NEW YORK (AP)— Kyrie Irving grew up in New York and New Jersey, so he knowsbetter than most whether the Knicks against the Nets is a realrivalry.

“If the NBAcalls it rivalry week, then it’s a rivalry,” Irving said.

Only aone-sided one.

Irving scored21 of his 32 points in the final 9 1/2 minutes, carrying Brooklynto its ninth straight victory over the Knicks, 122-115 onSaturday.

Irving’ssixth straight game of 30 or more points gave him a career high andthe Nets an NBA franchise record. He didn’t seem headed that waywhen he was only 4 for 14 with 11 points early in the fourthquarter.

But he tookover from there to make sure the Nets turned away every Knicksrally, including a deep 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play after NewYork was within five. The All-Star guard also had nine assists andsix rebounds.

“That’s whyit’s so great to have the basketball in his hands,” Nets coachJacque Vaughn said. “He can attack by himself, he can draw and kickand the defense has to react.”

Joe Harrisadded 16 points and Nic Claxton had 13 points, 12 rebounds and sixassists for the Nets. The NBA leader in field goal percentage shot6 for 6. Royce O’Neale and Seth Curry chipped in 14 points apieceas Brooklyn finished 22 for 40 from 3-point range.

Jalen Brunsonscored 26 points and RJ Barrett had 24 for the Knicks. They had wonconsecutive games against Eastern Conference contenders Clevelandand Boston.

But theycan’t find a way to beat Brooklyn. The teams separated by aboutfive miles made for a natural addition to the NBA’s “Rivals Week”schedule, now a decade since the Nets played their first season inBrooklyn following their move from New Jersey.

But theKnicks haven’t defeated the Nets in Tom Thibodeau’s 2/12 seasonsand their last victory was on Jan. 26, 2020, when Kevin Durantstill wasn’t playing for the Nets and Irving left Madison SquareGarden after learning of Kobe Bryant’s death that afternoon.

“For me, Ilove beating the Knicks and playing against them, but all in all,it’s just about the objective and that’s to win the ballgame,”Irving said. “Nothing personal.”

The Knicksgot the first basket of the fourth quarter, getting within fivepoints as their fans were fully into the game after being heldlargely silent for 2 1/2 quarters. But Irving hit his next threeshots, including a pair of 3-pointers, as Brooklyn went up104-90.

“He made sometough plays. Those were deep 3s that he made on us,” Thibodeausaid.

New Yorkwould later get within three, but Curry hit a 3 and Irving made apair to keep Brooklyn safely ahead.

Playingwithout Durant and Ben Simmons, the Nets led by as much as 19before the Knicks cut it to 88-81 after three.

TIP-INS

Knicks:Thibodeau said starting center Mitchell Robinson, who had surgeryJan. 19 to repair a broken right thumb, is running and other workcan do, but won’t know more about when he can return until after heis examined again, which was expected to be three weeks after theprocedure. ... Thibodeau said he didn’t feel any extra pressureafter owner James Dolan said during a radio interview this weekthat he expected the Knicks to make the playoffs. “If you’re doingall you can each and every day, you never feel pressure,” Thibodeausaid.

Nets: TJWarren also missed the game with a bruised shin, an injury thatcoach Jacque Vaughn thought was a knee injury. ... The Nets’longest winning streak against the Knicks is 11 in a row from1984-86.

HALLOF FAME FANS

Former Dukecoach Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Irving, Barrett, Curry andKnicks reserve Cam Reddish, was at the game. Thibodeau was also oneof his assistant coaches with the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. FormerNew York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera was also inattendance.

UPNEXT

Knicks: Hostthe Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Nets: Hostthe Lakers on Monday night.