NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving had 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 121-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers without LeBron James and Anthony Davis on Monday.
Irving was coming off having at least 30 points in a career-high six straight games, but he didn’t have to carry the team’s weight with several good plays from Brooklyn’s backups.
Patty Mills and Cam Thomas each added 21 points for the Nets, who have won two in a row and are 4-6 since Kevin Durant suffered a sprained ligament in his right knee. They won just five in a 21-game skid last season when Durant sprained his other knee.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said James had “significant pain” in his left foot and would be evaluated Tuesday to see if he can play against the New York Knicks.
James, who needs 117 points to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the leading scorer in NBA history, stayed in the corner of the Lakers’ bench. He hasn’t played in three years at Madison Square Garden.
