Nets bench steps up in victory over Lakers in Brooklyn

Kyrie Irving had 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 121-104 victory Monday night over the Los Angeles Lakers,

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Irving had scored 30 or more in a career-best six straight games

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Patty Mills and Cam Thomas added 21 points apiece for the Nets, who won their second straight and are 4-6 since Kevin Durant sprained a ligament in his right knee.

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They won just five times in 21 games last season when he sprained the other knee.

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James, who is 117 points shy of passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's career scoring record, sat at the end of the Lakers bench.

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Thomas Bryant had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, while Russell Westbrook finished with 17 points, ten assists and eight rebounds.

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The Lakers trailed by 12 at halftime but opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run for a 60-58 lead

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