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NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn’s three superstars have been simply sufficient to beat Bam Adebayo’s sensible particular person effort.
Kevin Durant scored 31 factors, Kyrie Irving took over late and had 28 and the Nets overcame Adebayo’s career-high 41 factors to beat the Miami Warmth 128-124 on Saturday night time.
James Harden completed with 12 factors, 11 assists and 7 rebounds because the Nets gained for the primary time with their Huge Three enjoying collectively. They misplaced consecutive video games with dismal defensive efforts in Cleveland and barely acquired sufficient stops to carry off a short-handed Warmth group that had been restricted to 81 factors by Toronto an evening earlier.
”It isn’t day by day you see this assortment of fellows enjoying collectively in NBA historical past, so we need to take full benefit of that,” Irving mentioned.
Irving helped pull the Nets by way of with 12 factors within the ultimate 5:48 after the Warmth had erased practically all of an 18-point deficit.
Joe Harris added 23 factors and 7 3-pointers for Brooklyn, however the Nets wanted Irving’s 18 factors within the ultimate quarter of a recreation they’d largely managed.
”All three of these guys, they’re simply so rattling expert. Off the dribble, their capturing potential, their potential to see open gamers, and that is why they’re three of the very best on this enterprise,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. ”And people are photographs that solely nice gamers can manufacture.”
Goran Dragic scored 19 factors and Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson every had 18 for the Warmth, who stay with out Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. Adebayo additionally had 9 assists whereas blowing previous his earlier finest scoring night time of 30 factors.
”I want we might gotten the W; 40 do not imply nothing except you bought the W, for actual,” Adebayo mentioned.
Durant was 5 for five and scored 13 factors within the third quarter, with the final of his three 3-pointers within the interval making it 96-80. Adebayo beat the buzzer with a jumper, than Miami opened the fourth with a 13-0 run to get inside 96-95.
”We have been up 20 factors all through, 16, 14 going to the fourth quarter, so we have been in fine condition. However we have got to place collectively 4 quarters of nice basketball,” Durant mentioned.
Irving, Harden and Durant rapidly mixed for eight straight factors however Adebayo saved coming, and the Nets wanted a few clutch baskets from Irving and late free throws to drag it out.
Harris had 4 3-pointers and 12 factors within the first quarter. The Nets have been forward 60-42 with just a little greater than two minutes left within the half, however Miami trimmed it to 66-56 on Adebayo’s 3-pointer simply earlier than the buzzer.
Harden did not make a basket till the fourth, threatening to go with out one in a recreation for the primary time since he left Oklahoma Metropolis. He lastly tried his first shot with 0.7 seconds left within the first quarter and was fouled behind the arc, making all three free throws for a 36-25 lead.
TIP-INS
Warmth: Moe Harkless began at ahead however exited within the second quarter with a bruised left thigh after banging legs with a Nets participant alongside the baseline. He hadn’t even performed within the collection opener towards Toronto and acquired solely six minutes Friday.
Nets: Jeff Inexperienced scored 11 factors. … The Nets got here in averaging an NBA-best 121.5 factors at residence.
LINE THEM UP
Miami used its eleventh totally different beginning lineup in its fifteenth recreation, whereas coach Steve Nash despatched out a unique first 5 for the twelfth time in Brooklyn’s 18 video games. A part of that’s due to participant absences and half as a result of he’s nonetheless experimenting following the Harden commerce, which he should must do earlier than deciding on his most popular starters.
”I am unsure we’re there but,” Nash mentioned. ”It is perhaps ideally suited to be there however I do not know that we’re, so I do not need to decide to that but.”
UP NEXT
The groups meet once more Monday at Barclays Heart.
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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports activities
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