Kyrie Irving may have just had the game of his life. The Brooklyn Nets guard, 29, lost 60 points en route to his team’s 150-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
Irving shot exceptionally well, shooting 20 of 31 from the field and 8 of 12 from behind the arc. In the first half alone, he scored 41 goals, more than anyone in a single half since Devin Booker scored 51 goals in 2017. He now holds the Nets franchise record for scoring in a single game. The win, the Nets’ fourth straight win, puts them 36-33 this season.
Irving became the last player to score at least 50 points in March. His Tuesday night performance set an NBA record for most 50-point games in a single calendar month. LeBron James (twice), Jason Tatum, Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns have others. Combined with Towns’ 60-point performance on Monday, the players scored the first straight 60 points since 1962, when Wilt Chamberlain did it alone in back-to-back games.
As expected, the NBA went on a rampage on social media praising Irving’s historic performance.
Kai stop it man!!! Not really
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 16, 2022
Jersey is putting out the numbers.
🤝 @KyrieIrving— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 16, 2022
Damn Kairi 🧙🏾♂️
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) March 16, 2022
60!
— Thiago Splitter (@tiagosplitter) March 16, 2022
this show @KyrieIrving 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Marriz Speights (@Mospeights16) March 16, 2022
— Andre (@andre) March 16, 2022
Kairi is truly the most experienced player. I’m not even sure this is a discussion.
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 16, 2022
Young Kobe!!! Game Master https://t.co/TXQpKMCd6C
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) March 16, 2022
Jersey 60! @CarlTowns @KyrieIrving
— Jason Thompson (@jtthekid) March 16, 2022
Kairi scored 40 points in the first half and you all tell me he is not in the top 75 🤦🏾♂️!!!
— Philadelphia cheese 🧀 (@dionwaiters3) March 16, 2022
League UP right now, everyone is raving
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 16, 2022
Bron set the league on fire by losing those two games by 50 points. Kat dropped 60 last night, Kairi dropped 60 today. I love these guys trying to outdo each other. Who is next???
Playoffs are going to be CRAZY 🔥 🔥🔥— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) March 16, 2022
@KyrieIrving put on a show!!!
— Carlos Boozer (@MisterCBooz) March 16, 2022
Kairi got 41 at halftime?!?!?!
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) March 16, 2022
I hope The Magic stays around and Kai can hit 60..
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) March 16, 2022
Kairi is going crazy today!!! #nba #buckets
— Norris Cole II (@pg30_Cole) March 16, 2022
Kairi is so cool
— Darius Miller (@DmillerKY) March 16, 2022