KD big night enough to beat Sixers

Kevin Durant had 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, James Harden scored 20 points and the Brooklyn Nets closed with a 16-1 run to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-109 on Friday night as each team played without a much-discussed star guard.

The Nets were missing Kyrie Irving, who isn’t with the team due to his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Ben Simmons sat out the home opener for personal reasons and the Sixers do not know when the three-time All-Star will return.

They could have used Simmons’ defense to shut down the Nets late.

The Sixers tossed up airballs on consecutive possessions early in Brooklyn’s run. The Nets had never led or tied until LaMarcus Aldridge’s dunk with 48 seconds left made it 108-108. He sank the free throw for the one-point lead.

Knicks 121, Magic 96 —As Tom Thibodeau headed in for his postgame news conference following the New York Knicks’ rout of the Orlando Magic, a fan implored the notoriously grumpy head coach to “be happy.”

Thibodeau certainly has plenty to be pleased about these days, with his Knicks off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Julius Randle had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Evan Fournier added 18 against his former team and New York hit a franchise-record 24 3-pointers to cruise past the rebuilding Magic.

Wizards 135, Pacers 134, OT

— Davis Bertans made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 34.4 seconds left in overtime, and the Washington Wizards overcame the absence of Bradley Beal, beating the Indiana Pacers.

Beal was out because of hip problems, but Spencer Dinwiddie scored 34 points in his home debut for the Wizards, including a 3-pointer to tie the game with 33.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter.