Kyrie Irving scored 38 points (8 during a 12-0 run in the third quarter), and the Brooklyn Nets rallied from 17 points down in the second quarter to beat the defending champion Golden State Warriors 120-116.
The Nets trailed 70-53 with 1:43 left in the second quarter and 72-60 at halftime. They were still down 106-93 with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter, with a 3% chance to win, and outscored the Warriors 27-10 the rest of the way.
During clutch time, the Nets outscored the Warriors 15-6. Irving (No. 4 in clutch wins added, 2022-23) scored 7 of the Nets’ 15 on 1 for 3 shooting and 5 for 5 at the line.
Nic Claxton had a career-high 24 points (18 in the paint), 15 rebounds and 3 blocks on 9 for 13 shooting. Irving assisted on 6 of Claxton’s 9 baskets, 3 of them in the fourth quarter.
For the Warriors, Stephen Curry had 26 points and 7 assists, and Klay Thompson went 0 for 7 from 3. Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points on 9 for 15 shooting off the bench. Kevon Looney had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Donte DiVincenzo had 13 points and a season-high 8 assists off the bench.
The Nets shot 54.4% from the field and 51.9% from 3 to the Warriors’ 45.6% and 40.6%. The Warriors outscored the Nets 50-21 off the bench. They did not make a field goal in the last 3:36. The Warriors’ starters were outscored 37-24 in 14 minutes together.