Kevin Durant strong finish carries short-staffed Nets after scary Claxton's fall / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Credit Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant totaled 34 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and converted a tiebreaking four-point play with 1:46 remaining as the short-handed Brooklyn Nets (21-8) beat the Philadelphia 76ers (15-15) 114-105 (39-25, 27-23, 19-31, 29-16) Friday night in New York.

Player of the Game EFF 38 Kevin Durant Points 34 Accuracy 13-24 Rebounds 11 Assists 8

Durant scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, when the Nets allowed the Sixers to tie the game twice before ending with an 11-2 run. Philadelphia had trailed by 20 points before halftime and by 11 early in the fourth period.

After the 76ers' Joel Embiid hit a 4-footer in the lane for a 103-103 tie with 1:55 left, Durant knocked down a 3-pointer from near the top of the key and converted the subsequent foul shot after being fouled by Tobias Harris.

Brooklyn finished off its fourth straight win by getting a 3-pointer from Blake Griffin and two free throws by David Duke Jr. before Durant hit a 6-footer with 35 seconds left.

Durant shot 13 of 24 and recorded his league-leading 13th 30-point game and season-high fourth straight 30-point game.

The Nets played their second straight game with seven players in the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols and had nine players available.

They were without starters LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre' Bembry and James Harden and reserves Bruce Brown, Jevon Carter, James Johnson and Paul Millsap.

Griffin and Nic Claxton each added a season-high 17 points for the Nets, who shot 49.4 percent. Patty Mills contributed 14 and hit four of Brooklyn's 11 3-pointers while rookie Cam Thomas chipped in 11 points.

Claxton had a scary fall in the third quarter after contact with Embiid. Luckily, after being down for several seconds, Claxton managed to get up and continue playing.

Embiid totaled 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the 76ers lost their third game in a row. Seth Curry added 29 points, but Harris was held to 11 on 3-of-17 shooting. He was 0-for-5 from deep as Philadelphia missed 24 of 34 3-point tries.

Durant scored 10 points as the Nets ended the first quarter on a 20-8 run and held a 39-25 lead. Durant was on the bench when Mills hit a 3-pointer to make it 47-31 with about seven minutes left in the second, and the Nets ended the half with a 12-4 run to take a 66-48 lead.

Embiid scored 14 points in the third as the Sixers nearly erased their entire deficit and were within 85-79 entering the fourth.

Nets: Kevin Durant 34 (11/21 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 6/6 FT, 11 REB, 8 AST, 4 TO), Blake Griffin 17 (6/11 2PT, 1/5 3PT, 9 REB), Nicolas Claxton 17 (8/9 2PT, 2 BLK), Patty Mills 14 (4/8 3PT, 5 REB, 4 TO), Cam Thomas 11 (2/2 3PT, 4 AST), Kessler Edwards 9 (7 REB).76ers: Joel Embiid 32 (10/17 2PT, 9/11 FT, 9 REB, 6 AST), Seth Curry 29 (10/12 2PT, 3/9 3PT, 4 AST), Shake Milton 13 (3/8 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 6 REB), Tobias Harris 11 (3/12 2PT, 0/5 3PT, 5/5 FT, 7 REB, 5 AST).

Kevin Durant's performance

Highlights

Thank you for reading us! We have even more content for you.