Durant lifts Irving-less Nets to road victory

WASHINGTON >> Kevin Durant had 28 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets won easily in their first game following Kyrie Irving’s suspension, 128-86 over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Nic Claxton added 18 points for the Nets, who won for only the third time this season despite also being without the injured Ben Simmons and Seth Curry. Brooklyn shot 14 of 28 from 3-point range and 56% from the field overall.

The Nets (3-6) have had a tumultuous week, parting ways with coach Steve Nash on Tuesday and suspending Irving on Thursday.

But the team played well without him, holding Washington to 29 points in the second half.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 20 points. Kyle Kuzma scored 19 and Kristaps Porzingis had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

CELTICS 123, BULLS 119 >> Jayson Tatum had 36 points and 12 rebounds, including some late free throws to help Boston beat Chicago.

CAVALIERS 112, PISTONS 88 >> Kevin Love had 21 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as short-handed Cleveland beat Detroit for its seventh straight win.

KNICKS 106, 76ERS 104 >> Obi Toppin hit a 3-pointer and Jalen Brunson finished off a three-point play seconds later as New York rallied from 12 points down to beat Philadelphia.

CLIPPERS 113, SPURS 106 >> Paul George scored 33 points and Los Angeles rallied against San Antonio for its third straight victory.

PACERS 101, HEAT 99 >> Buddy Hield scored 25 points and Indiana held on to beat Miami when Tyler Herro missed a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left.

GRIZZLIES 130, HORNETS 99 >> Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, matching his career-high with six 3-pointers, and Memphis ran past Charlotte.

MAVERICKS 111, RAPTORS 110 >> Luka Doncic scored 35 points, his eighth consecutive game of at least 30 to begin the season, as the

Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors.

TRAIL BLAZERS 108, SUNS 106 >> Jerami Grant scored a season-high 30 points, including a baseline jumper at the buzzer, to lift shorthanded Portland over Phoenix.

BUCKS 115, TIMBERWOLVES 102 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jrue Holiday scored 29 points and Milwaukee beat Minnesota to improve to 8-0, the best start to a season in franchise history.

JAZZ 130, LAKERS 116 >> Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson added 20 points, and Utah continued its remarkable start to the season, beating Los Angeles.