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NEW YORK – With a lot of his workforce lacking, Kevin Durant most likely must play nice for the Brooklyn Nets to win.
He is perhaps taking part in in addition to ever.
Durant scored 34 factors, making a four-point play with the sport tied and 1:46 left, and the Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105 on Thursday evening for one more short-handed victory.
The Nets had been lacking seven gamers due to coronavirus well being and security protocols however nonetheless had Durant, the NBA’s main scorer who added 11 rebounds and eight assists.
That follows video games of 51 factors, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, and 34 factors, 13 rebounds and 11 assists within the earlier two.
“It is a problem understanding how you are going to are available in to the video games as a result of a variety of these groups, they scheme for me a bit of totally different,” Durant stated.
Regardless of the 76ers’ scheme was, it did not work properly sufficient.
“I imply, that’s what he does on a nightly foundation,” guard Seth Curry stated.
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Blake Griffin and Nic Claxton each added a season-high 17 factors for the Nets, who had simply 9 gamers accessible. Patty Mills scored 14 factors in Jap Convention-leading Brooklyn’s fourth straight victory.
Joel Embiid had 32 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists within the 76ers’ third straight loss, dropping them to 15-15. Curry scored 29 factors for a workforce that was indignant that Brooklyn wasn’t known as for any fouls within the fourth quarter.
“I don’t bear in mind the final time that occurred, however nonetheless had an opportunity there,” Curry stated.
It was Brooklyn’s second straight sport with out starters James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre’ Bembry, together with reserves Bruce Brown, Paul Millsap, Jevon Carter and James Johnson.
“We will all hoop,” Claxton stated of the younger gamers pressured into prolonged motion. “Loads of consideration goes to KD so we’re simply making performs.”
The Nets constructed a 20-point lead however the 76ers, taking part in for the second straight evening, tied it at 103 on Embiid’s basket with 1:55 to play. Durant answered with a 3-pointer whereas being fouled by Tobias Harris, who had a nightmarish sport on each ends.
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Griffin adopted with a 3-pointer to make it 110-103 and rookie David Duke Jr. added two free throws to place it away.
The Nets shot 65% and led 39-25 after one and pushed it to 54-35 when Griffin, who had fallen out of the rotation solely however is now beginning, transformed a three-point play.
The Sixers trailed 66-46 late within the half however outscored Brooklyn 31-19 within the third, with Embiid and Curry combining for 25, to chop it to 85-79.
TIP-INS
76ers: Harris shot 3 for 17, lacking all 5 3-point makes an attempt. … Coach Doc Rivers stated there was an organizational dialogue about some unspecified coverage modifications to be extra vigilant towards the coronavirus. Embiid and Harris had been among the many Sixers who had been sidelined by the virus earlier this season. “We wish to be the workforce with the least (circumstances),” Rivers stated. “We lead nonetheless, I feel, in COVID video games off. That one stretch was brutal for us and now different groups are going by it. So it’s no enjoyable.”
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Nets: Veteran guard Langston Galloway, signed to a 10-day contract Thursday, had three factors in 9 minutes. … With Durant taking part in about 37 minutes a sport, coach Steve Nash stated there’s a “lot of consideration” to getting the All-Star ahead a break. The Nets play a house back-to-back towards Orlando and Denver this weekend.
COVID-19 CONCERNS
Although their coronavirus points are principally behind them, they are not over solely for the 76ers. Georges Niang is in well being and security protocols and Rivers questioned if the league must take extra steps with circumstances rising — which it’s, with extra testing and mask-wearing coming later this month.
“We’ve to do one thing as a result of at this charge I’m scared to activate ESPN proper now. Simply, extra guys are out,” Rivers stated.
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So many for the Nets, in truth, that they had been near being unable to have the minimal eight to start out a sport. Although they prevented having to postpone, it means the restricted gamers accessible took on a heavy load.
“So is it higher to be over the brink than to not be taking part in till you could have a wholesome roster?” Nash stated. “Or is it higher to have sufficient to play however to be short-handed and the burden and the toll it takes on these guys and understanding that you will have guys coming again who haven’t been in a position to observe or play basketball. So it’s positively tough to navigate.”
IN THE DIVISION
Brooklyn improved to 6-0 in video games towards the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia is 0-6.
UP NEXT
76ers: Host New Orleans on Sunday evening.
Nets: Host Orlando on Saturday evening.
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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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