Durant, Harden lead Nets to 138-112 romp over Bulls
The Bulls. Zach LaVine scored 20. DeMar DeRozan
CHICAGO— Kevin Durant scored 27 points, James Harden added 25 points and a season-high 16 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets rolled to an easy win over Chicago, beating the Bulls 138112 Wednesday night in a matchup between the Eastern Conference’s top two teams.
Durant had 17 points in the third. The secondplace Nets outscored East-leading Chicago by 20 in the quarter to silence a raucous crowd and came away with the win with all three superstars in the lineup for just the second time.
Kyrie Irving scored nine in his third game. The seven-time All-Star has refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine and is barred from suiting up in New York due to the city’s mandate.
But Durant dominated over 30 minutes and finished with nine assists. Harden hit five 3pointers. Patty Mills scored 21 and nailed of 6 of 8 from beyond the arc, helping Brooklyn come out on top after losing five of seven.
The Nets also avoided a three-game sweep by added 19 points. But Chicago lost for the second time in three games after winning nine straight to match their best run since the end of the 2010-11 regular season. The Bulls also had their nine-game home win streak snapped.
The Nets outscored the Bulls 39-19 in the third to turn a twopoint halftime lead into a 101-79 advant age.
Durant had 10 in about a two-minute span, including a 3 to make it 99-79 before Irving drove for a layup in the closing minute.
By then, the Nets were well on their way. They took control midway through the third with an 18-4 run to break open a game that was tied at 71, a 3pointer by Mills making it 89-75. ( AP)