Kyrie Irving scores 29 points to lead Nets to 112-98 win over Raptors

On Wednesday, Kyrie Irving scored 29 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 112-98 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Irving had 26 points in the second half, the most in a half by a Nets player this season. In the first half, he only attempted three shots and made one. In the third quarter, Irving scored 19 of his 29 points.

The NBA had suspended Irving for posting a link to an anti-Semitic film on Twitter. Since his return, the Nets have won three of four games, including two of three. The win came after their 115-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center last week.

“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.”

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn praised Irving, saying he is gifted and can score on any court.

“It doesn’t take too much. 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,” Vaughn said of Irving.

Kevin Durant scored 12 points, while Nic Claxton had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Durant scored his 26,074th career point in the third quarter, topping Kevin Garnett on the NBA’s all-time scoring list to claim the 18th place.

The Nets made a season-high for three-pointers with 17 shots for 38 from 3-point range. Royce O’Neale made five three-pointers, scoring 15 points, and Ben Simmons scored 14 points for Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, the Raptors finished seven for 29 in terms of three-pointers, matching their fewest made three-pointers of the season.

Chris Boucher had 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. had 19 points, O.G. Anunoby scored 15 points and Thad Young had 12 points for the Raptors.