Nets take down Bucks 118-100 for their EIGHTH straight win

The Nets kept the NBA’s longest winning streak alive Friday night by beating the Bucks 118-100, as every starter scored in double figures and Kevin Durant led the team with 24.

The Nets scored 36 points in a hot first quarter and led by seven at the end of the period, with the team not relinquishing their lead the rest of the game.

Nic Claxton was second on the team in scoring with 19 points, while Royce O’Neale (5-8 from three-point range) hit 17 and Kyrie Irving scored 14 of his 18 to close the game.

Ben Simmons also had a strong game for the Nets, posting 12 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals while registering a game-high +26 plus-minus.

Kevin Durant scored 24 points to help the Nets to their eighth straight win

The Nets led by as many as 23 in the third quarter but the Bucks ended the quarter down just 10 as they put a bit of a scare into the Nets.

But Brooklyn outscored their visitors 33-25 and managed to pull their starters with about three minutes left to play.

‘We were just rocking,’ Irving said after the game.

‘Having fun, playing a good brand of basketball, doing the little things and it results in some wins. And we just want to keep it going, we don’t want to take our foot off the gas pedal.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 on the night but was scoreless in the fourth quarter for the Bucks, who were without All-Star forward Khris Middleton.

Jrue Holiday’s 18 points and five assists were not enough to prevent the Bucks from losing

However, the two-time MVP also had seven turnovers on the night as Simmons slowed him down.

“I think overall as a team, we did a good job containing him and kind of showing him a lot of bodies,” Simmons said.

‘And for me, it’s just physical. I can go down there and hit you, so I’m willing to do that.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points in the game, but did not score in the fourth quarter

Former longtime Net Brook Lopez also made an appearance against his former team, scoring 23 points, while Jrue Holiday had 18 and five assists.

The Bucks (22-10) were just 1.5 games ahead of the Nets (21-12) after the result.

The Nets started the season just 2-5 under former coach Steve Nash, but have turned their season around dramatically since Jacque Vaughn stepped into the head coaching role.

Kyrie Irving finished with 18 points after scoring 14 in the fourth quarter against Milwaukee

They are 19-7 since the former assistant took over, and will carry that confidence into another tough matchup Monday at the Cavaliers.

Milwaukee faces the Celtics on Christmas.

In the crowd for the comfortable victory was AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who spoke to Irving after the game.

The legendary forward is in Brooklyn enjoying the winter break after the World Cup.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic sits courtside during the Brooklyn Nets’ game against Milwaukee