Kyrie Irving might have just had the game of his life. The 29-year-old Brooklyn Nets guard dropped 60 points en route to his team's 150-108 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
Irving shot exceptionally well, going 20-for-31 from the field and 8-for-12 from beyond the arc. He scored 41 in the first half alone -- the most anyone has scored in a single half since Devin Booker's 51 in 2017. He now holds the Nets' franchise record for points in a single game. The win, the Nets' fourth in a row, puts them at 36-33 for the season.
Irving is the latest player to score at least 50 points in March. His performance Tuesday night ties an NBA record for most 50-point games in a single calendar month. LeBron James (twice), Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns have the others. Combined with Towns' 60-point performance Monday, it's the first time players have scored 60 points on consecutive days since 1962, when Wilt Chamberlain did it all by himself in back-to-back games.
As expected, the NBA went wild on social media with praise of Irving's historic game.
Ky stop it man!!! Actually don't ???????????
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 16, 2022
Jersey putting up numbers.
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 16, 2022
? @KyrieIrving
— andre (@andre) March 16, 2022
Kyrie really the most skilled player ever. Not even sure its a debate.
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 16, 2022
Young Kobe!!! Master of the game https://t.co/TXQpKMCd6C
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) March 16, 2022
Jersey 60! @KarlTowns @KyrieIrving
— Jason Thompson (@jtthekid) March 16, 2022
Kyrie got 40 in the first half & yall telling me he not a top 75 ??♂️!!!
— Philly Cheese ? (@dionwaiters3) March 16, 2022
The League is UP right now , everybody hoopin
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 16, 2022
Bron lit a match in the league dropping those two 50pt games. Kat drops 60 last night kyrie drops 60 tonight. Love these boys trying to 1 up each other. Who's next???
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) March 16, 2022
Playoffs bout to be CRAZY ? ??
@KyrieIrving putting on a show!!!
— Carlos Boozer (@MisterCBooz) March 16, 2022
Kyrie got 41 at halftime?!?!?!
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) March 16, 2022
I hope The Magic stay close so Ky can get 60..
— ? Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) March 16, 2022
Kyrie going crazy tonight!!! #nba #buckets
— Norris Cole II (@pg30_Cole) March 16, 2022
Kyrie is so tough smh
— Darius Miller (@DmillerKY) March 16, 2022