NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving grew up in New York and New Jersey, so he knows better than most whether the Knicks against the Nets is a real rivalry.
"If the NBA calls it rivalry week, then it's a rivalry," Irving said.
Only a one-sided one.
Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the final 9 1/2 minutes, carrying Brooklyn to its ninth straight victory over the Knicks, 122-115 on Saturday.
Irving's sixth straight game of 30 or more points gave him a career high and the Nets an NBA franchise record.