Nets overcome slow start, defeat short-handed Heat
NEW YORK » James Harden and Kevin Durant each scored 20 points despite three relatively quiet quarters, and the Brooklyn Nets broke away with a big run in the fourth to beat the Miami Heat 98-85 on Monday night.
Kyrie Irving added 16 points for the Nets, who completed a sweep of the Heat in two games that couldn’t have been more different.
Harden had only 10 points and four shots through three, then scored 10 more in the 18-2 spurt that turned a tie game into a 96-80 lead.
PISTONS 119, 76ERS 104 » Delon Wright scored a careerhigh 28 points and Wayne Ellington had another impressive shooting night for
Detroit, leading the Pistons past Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia. PACERS 129, RAPTORS 114 » Malcolm Brogdon scored a career-high 36 points and Myles Turner scored 11 of his 21 in the final 8 ½ minutes to help Indiana pull
away from Toronto.
MAGIC 117, HORNETS 108 » Nikola Vucevic scored 28 points and rookie point guard Cole Anthony added a career-high 21 points as Orlando topped Charlotte. LAKERS 115, CAVALIERS 108 » LeBron James went on tear in the fourth quarter on his former home court, scoring 23 of his 46 points to keep Los Angeles unbeaten on the road with a win over Cleveland. NUGGETS 117, MAVERICKS 113 » Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 30 points and Denver overcame Jamal Murray’s ejection for a shot to the groin of Dallas guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to beat the Mavericks. CELTICS 119, BULLS 103 » Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, Jayson Tatum added 24 after missing five games because of COVID-19 protocols and Boston beat Chicago. THUNDER 125, BLAZERS 122 » Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, Mike Muscala added 23, and Oklahoma City snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Portland.