Short-handed Warriors beat Nets while Lakers topple Kings
LOS ANGELES: Kevin Durant scored 28 points and unheralded Quinn Cook delivered 27 as the defending champions Golden State Warriors rallied without injured star Stephen Curry to beat the Brooklyn Nets 116-100.
Quinn’s total was a season-high as he dressed in place of Curry, who missed the game after suffering a groin injury on Thursday in a loss to Milwaukee.
“I was trying the pick and roll, making great reads and trying to set great screens,” Durant said.
Curry “doesn’t feel entitled or like he has to play. When his number is called he is able to go out there and produce.”
The Warriors were also without Draymond Green, but nine time allstar Durant carried the club on his back as they snapped Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak.
Durant had 13 points in the first quarter, scored the final six of the second as the Warriors stretched their lead to 20 in the third.
Cook made 18 starts a year ago while Curry was injured. He nailed his first seven shots on Saturday and matched Durant with 19 points in the first half.
Cook described Durant is a special talent. “I want to be like him some day –- a Hall of Famer.”
Elsewhere, LeBron James scored 25 points and Tyson Chandler grabbed 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers clawed their way to a .500 record with a 101-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The Lakers are now 6-6 on the season, the first time they have as many wins as losses.
In Milwaukee, Montrezl Harrell provided the spark, coming off the bench to score 26 points as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in overtime.
In Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored a quickfire 23 points as the Toronto Raptors maintained their grip on the Eastern Conference standings with a 128-112 demolition of the New York Knicks.
Cameroonian international Siakam drained six field goals including a trio of three-pointers as Toronto romped to a comfortable victory at the Scotiabank Arena.
The win sees the Raptors improve to 12-1 at the top of the Eastern Conference, maintaining their lead over second place Milwaukee.
Toronto, who topped last year’s Eastern Conference only to be swept in the playoff semi-finals by Cleveland, are determined to improve on their recent record of postseason failures this year.