NEW YORK – Brooklyn Nets bucked the absence of almost half of their roster due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols to beat on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) the Toronto Raptors in overtime, 131-129, in the 2021-2022 NBA Season at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Kevin Durant played the entire match and finished with triple-double 34 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Patrick Mills added season-high 30 points, including seven three-pointers.
Rookies Kessler Edwards and David Duke Jr. stepped up with double-double numbers with the former tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds and the latter submitting 10 points and 13 rebounds. With the win, the Nets stayed on top in the East with 20-8.
The Nets were without James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, DeAndre Bembry, Jevon Carter, Bruce Brown, and James Johnson due to NBA’s health and safety protocols. Also out were injured Joe Harris and Kyrie Irving who is not yet vaccinated.
After being down 124-120 to start the overtime period, Durant and Mills conspired on an 8-0 scoring run for Brooklyn to take a 128-124 advantage.
The Raptors responded with a basket from Gary Trent Jr. to make it 126-128. But the Nets widened the lead anew to 130-126 on two free throws by Duke with 10 seconds left.
Toronto made its last push at 129-130 on a triple by Fred VanVleet and, after a split free throw by Nets’ Mills for a 131-129 count, the Raptors missed on a potential game-winning triple by Scottie Barnes.
VanVleet top-scored for the Raptors (13-15) with 31 points and nine assists. Trent and Paskal Siakam chipped in 25 markers apiece, while Barnes had double-double 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry became the NBA’s All-Time Leader in three-pointers made as the Golden State Warriors (23-5) defeated New York Knicks (12-16), 105-96.
Curry converted back-to-back triples to start the match to eclipse the previous NBA record of retired NBA gunner Ray Allen. Curry finished the match with 22 points, including five outside hits.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 131 — Durant 34, Mills 30, Edwards 17, Claxton 16, Griffin 13, Duke 10, Sharpe 7, Thomas 4.
TORONTO 129 — VanVleet 31, Siakam 25, Trent 25, Barnes 23, Boucher 9, Champagnie 6, Watanabe 5, Flynn 3, Mykhailiuk 2.
Quarterscores: 33-32, 66-56, 91-100, 120-120, 131-129./PN
