Nets post third-highest NBA halftime score EVER with 91-51 lead vs Golden State Warriors in New York

Nets post third-highest NBA halftime score EVER with 91-51 lead over Golden State Warriors in New York before rounding off a huge 143-113 victory with a ruthless performance at the Barclays Center… and Kevin Durant only played 29 minutes!

• The Nets annihilated the Warriors in the first half on Wednesday in Brooklyn
• Their 91 points were the most in franchise history, and third-most in NBA history
• Kevin Durant finished the game with 23 points in a balanced attack for Brooklyn
• Royce O’Neale also started strong and finished the game with 14 points
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By Jack Bezants For Dailymail.Com

Brooklyn Nets posted the third highest NBA halftime score ever on Wednesday night with a brutal display against a depleted Golden State Warriors in New York.

The Nets had a 91-51 lead at the interval, with Kevin Durant top scoring for the Nets by the midway stage. The Nets his 13 threes in the first half and eventually ran out with a massive 143-113 victory.

The highest ever halftime NBA score was when Phoenix Suns hit 107 against the Nuggets in 1990 and the Warriors scored 92 against the Bulls in 2018.

Their total of 143 points is a season-high for the Nets, while their 40-point halftime lead is a new Nets record. Their 29-point first quarter lead is also a Nets record while nine players reaching double figures ties the franchise record. 

The Nets posted the NBA’s third-highest halftime score of 91-51 vs. the Warriors on Wednesday

Kevin Durant top scored for the Nets in a commanding display at the Barclays Center 

Furthermore, star man Kevin Durant played just 29 minutes – a season low – in the game as the Nets were able to rest their star man with a victory looking assured so early in the game. 

‘We set the tone early,’ Royce O’Neale said after. ‘We took away things they like doing and make things tough for them. Our offense was flowing, moving about and making shots.

‘There was an emphasis on defense and rebound and creating our offense off each other. It means a lot, you never know who is going to step up. We are competing hard and playing for one another.’

‘They played really well,’ Frank Isola said on YES after the game. ‘That first half was outstanding. The 91 points was just off the charts – they were moving the ball and knocking down shots.’

The Warriors were without Steph Curry, who has hurt his shoulder, and Klay Thompson but the Nets didn’t have Kyrie Irving on Wednesday either. 

Irving was watching from the sideline, missing the game due to a tight calf. 

Speaking before the game, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn explained Irving had felt tightness in his right calf.

‘It just came after the warmup, he did some shooting a little bit earlier when he arrived and then came to me and said he experienced a little bit of tightness,’ he said.

‘So want to get him checked out a little bit and see what the update is hopefully soon.’ 

But it didn’t hold the Nets back at back at all as they went all out to turn their six-game winning streak into seven.

Vaughn admitted he didn’t know the 91-51 score was one for the NBA record books.

‘Wow! Nicely done,’ Vaughan said. ‘That’s what happens when you come to work and you’re ready to work right from the beginning.

‘I consider it progress. It was the message in our walkthrough to be focused throughout, no matter who is playing. Games like this can go either way.’ 

Ben Simmons tallied 10 points, eight assists and four rebounds on the night

Yuta Watanabe also continued his strong play off the bench as he scored eight points

Actor Jason Sudeikis, fondly known for his role as soccer coach Ted Lasso, was in attendance for a slice of NBA history on Wednesday evening. 

The defeat for the Warriors made it a miserable trip to the Big Apple for the Warriors – they were also beaten 132-94 by the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, another wire-to-wire loss.

The Nets are back in action Friday night, hosting the Bucks, and Vaughn said he is hopeful Irving can play.

For the Warriors, the next chance to return to winning ways comes on Christmas Day against the Nuggets.

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