NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 34 points to lift the Brooklyn Nets to a much-needed 116-109 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Durant authored some personal and franchise history in Brooklyn’s second win of the season (2-5). With two free throws in the first quarter, Durant passed Vince Carter for 19th on the NBA’s career scoringt list. He now has 25,752 points. And, he has scored at least 25 points in each of the first seven games of the season, the most in franchise history.
Kyrie Irving added 28 points and Nic Claxton had 19 points and nine rebounds.
Despite a 30-point performance from Chris Duarte, Indiana dropped to 3-5. Buddy Hield chipped in with 22. Bennedict Mathurin contributed 16, and Tyrese Haliburton had 11.
76ERS 118, WIZARDS 111
WASHINGTON (AP) — James Harden scored 23 points and had 17 assists as Philadelphia clawed back to .500 with a victory over Washington despite missing Joel Embiid.
Tyrese Maxey added 28 points for Philadelphia. Georges Niang sank all four of his 3-pointers in the second half — including three in the fourth quarter — and finished with 12 points as the 76ers won their third straight to move to 4-4.
Embiid, the back-to-back NBA MVP finalist, missed out due to non-COVID-19 related illness.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 32 points and Bradley Beal added 19 for Washington, which lost its third in a row and second at home.
KINGS 115, HORNETS 108
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Huerter scored 26 points, Davion Mitchell added 23 points, including two clutch jumpers late in the game, and Sacramento rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to beat Charlotte for its second straight win.
Huerter and Mitchell combined to go 10 of 16 from 3-point range and Harrison Barnes added 14 points as the Kings outscored Charlotte to 37-18 in the third quarter.
P.J. Washington led the Hornets in scoring with 28 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 16 for Charlotte.
RAPTORS 139, HAWKS 109
TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 12 rebounds and Scottie Barnes scored a season-high 21 points as Toronto routed Atlanta.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 21 points and O.G. Anunoby had 14 as the Raptors set a season high in points and improved to 3-1 at home.
Siakam had six assists, his franchise-best 30th game with 20 or more points, 10 or more rebounds and five or more assists.
Trae Young had 14 points and 10 assists, and John Collins had 12 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out as the Hawks lost their second straight. Dejounte Murray scored 20 points for the Hawks, Clint Capela had 13 and De’Andre Hunter 11.
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