Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on April 6, 2022 in New York City. Photo: VCG

Kevin Durant scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half as the visiting Brooklyn Nets rallied for a 110-98 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

The Knicks held a 96-94 lead on a free throw by RJ Barrett with 5:11 remaining but were outscored 16-2 the rest of the way. Durant forged a 96-all tie with 4:57 left by hitting a 13-footer and then hit a go-ahead 18-footer 42 seconds later.

Kyrie Irving, who added 24 points, hit a three-pointer for a 101-96 lead with 2:48 to go and Seth Curry followed with another three-pointer to make it 104-96 with 96 seconds left to clinch Brooklyn's seventh straight win over the Knicks (35-45).

Durant shot 11 of 22 and also posted a triple-double by collecting 11 assists and 10 rebounds as Brooklyn (42-38) moved within one game of the seventh-place Cleveland Cavaliers, whom they host on Friday.

Irving made nine of 26 shots and also added eight rebounds and seven assists in his first game as a Net at Madison Square Garden.

Curry and Patty Mills contributed 15 points apiece and the duo combined for eight of Brooklyn's 14 three-pointers as the Nets shot 44.1 percent from the field overall.

Alec Burks scored 24 points, but the Knicks scored just 31 points after halftime and were outscored 60-25 in the final 23:16 of the game.

Barrett added 23 and Obi Toppin contributed 19 for New York, which shot 38.6 percent, missed 15 free throws and did not get a field goal over the final 7:10.

The Knicks ripped off 19 straight points spanning 4:10 bridging the first and second quarters to open a 38-25 lead on a basket by Toppin with 9:55 remaining in the first half. The lead grew to 63-46 when Evan Fournier hit a three-pointer with 2:39 remaining and the Knicks held a 67-50 advantage by halftime.

New York missed eight straight shots before Jericho Sims dunked for a 75-60 lead with 6:12 left in the third and Barrett's layup made it 80-62 with 3:58 to go before Brooklyn ended the third on a 10-2 run.

Brooklyn, who are assured of a place in the play-in tournament next week, improved to 42-38.

But for Nets star Durant, Brooklyn's thrilling comeback was too close for comfort.

"It's risky, I hate being down like that," Durant said. "I hate being that team, you know, get down, and we fight back. I don't want that to be a part of who we are. 

"But that situation may come and for us it's about sticking together, making the right play regardless of the score. That's what we leaned on tonight. We had a good spirit in that second half."

In the Western Conference, the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks brushed aside the eliminated Detroit Pistons with a 131-113 win.

Luka Doncic finished with 26 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds in just under 34 minutes on court, with Jalen Brunson adding 24 points.

In the late game, the Western Conference-leading Phoenix Suns, already assured of top seeding, suffered a 113-109 reverse on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Suns rested stars Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton for the defeat. 

Norman Powell led the Clippers scorers with 24 points.