Kyrie Irving explodes for 25 of Nets 56 points in first half as Brooklyn's defense nowhere to be found

The Nets floor general went on a scoring spree during the first half.

Kyrie Irving wasted little time in going to work during Wednesday night's opener as he tallied 25 first half points to lead the Nets. Brooklyn surrendered 68 points to the Timberwolves and it took a miraculous Spencer Dinwiddie half court shot to pull them to within 12 points at the halftime buzzer. 

Many of the defensive deficiencies that were on display during the preseason showed up again at the start of the season as the Nets were slow to close out on shooters as Minnesota shot 25 of 50 from the field and 9 of 19 from 3-point range. Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 15 and Robert Covington dropped in 11. 

Caris LeVert added 15 to support Irving's scoring barrage. The rest of the Nets players scored just 15 points. Brooklyn has plenty of work ahead to stop a downhill offensive train in Minnesota and avoiding dropping to 7-2 in home openers at Barclays Center.