New York (AFP) – Kevin Durant scored 30 points, including a jump win with 11 seconds left, as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-105 on Friday night.
Durant was in 12 of 13 in free throws and Patty Mills added 23 points for the Nets, who won for the fifth time in six games and improved their Eastern Conference record to 16-6.
James Harden finished with 20 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 13 points.
“We stayed with our defense,” Durant said. “We made them shoot at us. We stopped (and) were able to make shots all the way up.”
Former Nets goalkeeper D’Angelo Russell scored 21 points for the Timberwolves, who lost three out of five. Nas Reed and Anthony Edwards finished 19 pieces, and Beasley’s owner was 18.
“We competed,” Reed said.
Russell jumped on his first possession in the fourth quarter giving Minnesota an 87-86 lead and making another with a 95-91 lead with 9:33 left.
The Nets regained the lead with a 6-0 score midway through the fourth quarter, leading 105-101. Minnesota cut the difference to 107-105 in Edwards’ basket but Harden made a free throw and Durant drilled a mid-range jump with 11 seconds left to take the win, the Associated Press reported.
“I know how important the fourth quarter is, especially in a tough game,” Durant said. “I was able to get to my place in fourth and hit some.”
Brooklyn led by one point in Durant’s three-point game with 1:20 left in the first half, and extended it to as many as seven points three times in the third quarter. But the pesky Timberwolves continued to hang around and were only delayed by an 86-85 entering fourth.
“They[tried]to screw it up and stay in the game,” Durant said. “You have to appreciate that and respect him as an opponent.”
Twenty-four minutes into a rough opening game for both teams, it was the Nets who led 59-55 in the first half. Netting went to the offense line 24 times in the first two quarters, and made 19 free throws. By comparison, Minnesota made 13 of 14 free throws in the first half. Both teams scored 11 spins.
“There were a lot of things we could (do differently),” Reed said of the first half. “So many bone fluctuations that we could have probably gotten off the edge.”
The Timberwolves were short-handed, not playing starting center Karl-Anthony Towns (bruised tailbone), reserve point guard Patrick Beverly (strain left adductor) and Jaden McDaniels (flu-like symptoms).
Hints:
Timberwolves: After missing the playoffs 16 times in the past 21 seasons, Minnesota are hoping to break the corner under coach Chris Finch, whose Timberwolves are eighth in the Western Conference. Finch credits his players for the “amazing buy” of the approach he and the coaching staff have implemented, as well as their maturity. “Sometimes it’s about when to get these guys involved in their careers,” Finch said. “They are ready, in fact, to turn the page on another point in their career and (they are) so focused on playoffs, chances, and team success; doing all the things you need to do to win a higher level every night.”
Nets: The Nets’ short-handed streak is another step closer to being in full force with the return of reserve man Nick Claxton. Claxton, 22, missed 17 consecutive games due to an undisclosed illness after playing in the first four games of Brooklyn’s season. “It’s not like he’s back to play 25 minutes a night. We want to give him opportunities to grow and improve his fitness,” coach Steve Nash said before the game, stressing that he would wait to see if the situation “presents itself” to get Claxton playing time.
the following:
Timberwolves: Host Atlanta on Monday night.
Nets: The host is Chicago on Saturday night.