NBA ROUND-UP: Kevin Durant misses CRUCIAL free throw to tie game against Dallas in 96-94 loss

Kevin Durant’s streak of 62 made free throws in a row came to end when he missed the second of three with five seconds remaining in Dallas as the Nets lost, 96-94, to the Mavericks on Monday night. 

Brooklyn fell to 2-2 under acting coach Jacque Vaughn following the firing of Steve Nash last Tuesday, and now 2-1 following the suspension of Kyrie Irving last Thursday after a 108-99 loss against the Chicago Bulls on November 1st.

Luka Doncic scored 36 points, becoming only the second NBA player ever with nine consecutive games of at least 30 to begin the season. Dorian Finney-Smith scored 18 points and Josh Green had 16 for the Mavericks, who have won four straight games to go 6-3 overall. 

Kevin Durant had 26 points for the Nets, who led by 14 points eight minutes in. Cam Thomas scored 19 points, Royce O’Neal had 15 and Joe Harris added 14. 

Doncic joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to score 30 or more points in the first nine games of a season. Chamberlain did it in the first 23 games of 1962-63.

Doncic played 38 minutes and passed the 30-point mark on a step-back 3-pointer with 3 seconds left on the shot clock with 7:54 remaining in the fourth period to pull Dallas to 78-77. 

That began a 14-0 Mavericks run – including a technical foul on Durant followed by him jawing at the Dallas bench – for an 88-78 lead with 5 minutes left. 

The Nets pulled to 92-91 on Thomas’ 3 with 25.3 seconds left. Doncic made two free throws with 13.8 seconds to play for a three-point lead. Durant was fouled on the dribble with 11 seconds to go and pulled Brooklyn to 94-93 with two free throws. Finney-Smith hit two free throws with 9.8 seconds left to push Dallas’ lead to 96-93.

Brooklyn inbounded with 6.7 seconds left and Durant was fouled by Reggie Bullock while attempting a 3-pointer. Durant hit the first but rimmed out the second. He intentionally missed the third free throw, and Dallas came away with the ensuing scramble for the ball. 

HART SINKS HEAT AT BUZZER AS BLAZERS’ HOT START CONTINUES

Portland didn’t call time. Josh Hart called game.

Hart’s 3-pointer as time expired off a pass from Damian Lillard gave the Trail Blazers a 110-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night, capping a perfect offensive finish from Portland.

The Blazers trailed for most of the final three quarters, then went 8 for 8 from the floor in the game’s last 6:07.

‘It’s good to have games like this, especially early in the season, that are close games that come down to the wire and force you to execute,’ Hart said.

Execution was no issue for the Blazers. They shot 13 for 17 in the fourth quarter, the second-best final 12 minutes by any NBA team so far this season. Only New Orleans — 14 for 18 against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 30 — had a better fourth quarter.

At 7-3, Portland is off to its best start since 2018-19.

The exciting finish highlighted a full slate of NBA games on Monday as the league made all the action available free to fans on its website ahead of election day on Tuesday. The NBA is one of several leagues using the occasion to persuade fans to go and vote on Tuesday. 

Many teams are planning to promote and encourage voting and civic engagement on Monday, in advance of Election Day in the U.S. on Tuesday. The NBA did not schedule any games for Tuesday in commemoration of the elections, the first such move in league history.

Anfernee Simons scored 25 for Portland, Jerami Grant added 23 and Lillard finished with 19 points in his first game back after a four-game absence with a right calf strain. Hart and Justice Winslow each scored 12.

Hart’s buzzer-beater capped a wild final few moments. Max Strus made a 3-pointer for Miami with 6.2 seconds remaining to tie the game. The Trail Blazers opted not to call timeout and Lillard dribbled most of the way downcourt before finding Hart in the left corner near the Heat bench.

Hart hit the shot, and the Blazers ran off their bench to chase him in celebration.

‘I saw Josh waving his hands,’ said Lillard, who was thinking he’d take the shot before seeing Hart. ‘Easy play.’

STEPHEN CURRY DROPS 45 AS WARRIORS SNAP FIVE-GAME SKID

Stephen Curry scored a season-high 47 points, knocking down seven 3-pointers, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 116-113 on Monday night to snap a five-game losing streak.

Andrew Wiggins had 25 points and Klay Thompson added 16 for the Warriors before Curry made two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to secure the win.

Draymond Green added 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Green threw down a dunk with 37 seconds left to stretch the Golden State lead to three.

Curry, Thompson, Green and Wiggins returned to the lineup after not playing against New Orleans on Friday.

Thompson is not playing on back-to-back nights because of his anterior cruciate ligament and Achilles tendon injuries in 2019 and 2020. Green is under similar limitations because of a back injury suffered last season.

Curry was being rested because of elbow soreness and Wiggins because of a sore left foot.

BUCKS DROP FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON TO YOUNG-LESS HAWKS

Dejounte Murray scored 25 points, rookie A.J. Griffin came off the bench in Trae Young’s absence to add a career-high 24 and the Atlanta Hawks snapped the Milwaukee Bucks’ season-opening, nine-game winning streak with a 117-98 victory on Monday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence with a sore left knee to score 25 points for the Bucks, who were attempting to become the first team to begin a season 10-0 since the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors got off to a 24-0 start.

‘We got more aggressive in the third and fourth quarter and were able to beat the best team in the league tonight,’ Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. ‘Offensively, I thought we had really good movement, made them work and were patient and we didn’t settle for the quick shots like we did in the first game against them.’

Young, Atlanta’s leader in points and assists, missed the game with right shin soreness. Griffin filled in admirably, logging 31 minutes and going 10 of 15 from the field.

JOEL EMBIID DROPS 30 IN RETURN AS 76ERS DOWN SUNS IN PHOENIX

Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds in his return after missing three games with the flu, Georges Niang scored 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting on 3-pointers, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Phoenix Suns 100-88 on Monday night.

Tobias Harris added 21 points and Tyrese Maxey had 11 on 4-for-18 shooting from the field to help the 76ers win for the second time in six games.

‘Our season began today,’ Embiid said. ‘Everything before tonight didn’t count. The Phillies season is over and I enjoyed watching them, and this was our first game since then, so this was the first game of the season.’

Devin Booker scored 28 points for the Suns, who have lost two of three after winning seven of their first eight games to begin the season. Mikal Bridges had 15 points, and Cameron Payne and DeAndre Ayton each added 14.

Embiid had been struggling in practice with maintaining stamina as a result of breathing issues related to his flu recovery. He was dominant in his return, adding five assists and shooting 16-for-16 from the free-throw line in 36 minutes.

‘Forget about Joel, let’s talk about Georges Niang,’ Harris joked after the game. ‘Every time they made a run, Georges was there to make a big shot. Especially in the fourth quarter. He would stretch the lead from six to nine or seven to 10 and eventually it deflated them.’

KNICKS PUMMEL WOLVES WITH GOBERT IN COVID PROTOCOL

Julius Randle scored 31 points and had eight of New York’s season-high 19 3-pointers, and the Knicks cruised to a 120-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

Jalen Brunson pitched in 23 points and eight assists, RJ Barrett had 22 points and Obi Toppin scored 15 points off the bench for the Knicks (5-5), who built a lead as big as 27 points in the second quarter and never encountered any resistance.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points on 9-for-12 shooting with 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Timberwolves (5-6), who faced a deficit of double-digit points over the final 35-plus minutes of the game. Anthony Edwards had 16 points and nine rebounds

Frustrated Timberwolves coach Chris Finch gave a few of his reserves some extended time in search of a spark, and a layup by Austin Rivers cut the lead to 105-91 with 9:32 to go. But Randle hit a step-back 3-pointer just a few seconds after re-entering for the final stretch to make it 108-92.

With center Rudy Gobert in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols and out for a second straight game, the Timberwolves looked out of it from the 

LAVINE PUSHES BULLS PAST RAPTORS WITH 30-POINT EFFORT

Zach LaVine scored a season-high 30 points and the Chicago Bulls coasted to a 111-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

LaVine, who didn’t play in Sunday’s nine-point loss at Toronto because of injury management on his knee, scored the Bulls’ first nine points of the fourth quarter before committing his fifth foul with 7:26 left.

But the Bulls held a 15-point lead and were able to cruise the rest of the way.

‘When (LaVine) takes those catch-and-shoot opportunities, as many as he can get, it’s great for us,’ Bulls coach Billy Donovan said.

Bulls center Nikola Vucevic recorded his fourth consecutive double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Guard Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 27 points.

JOKIC’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE GIVES NUGGETS WIN OVER SPURS

Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 10 assists, Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and the Denver Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 115-109 on Monday night for their third straight victory.

Denver point guard Jamal Murray added 19 points, six assists and five rebounds. Murray had six points in the final quarter, going 3 for 4 from the field.

It was San Antonio’s fourth straight loss following a 5-2 start.

MYLES TURNER, PACERS OVERPOWER PELICANS

Myles Turner had season highs of 37 points and 12 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 129-122 on Monday night for their fourth win in five games.

‘That was one of his most impactful games since I’ve been here,’ Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Turner. ‘But a big point night should not be what this is about. This should be about the team. He scored all those points to help our team win.’

Tyrese Haliburton added 20 points and 13 assists for the Pacers, making six 3-pointers. Buddy Hield had 20 points with five 3-pointers. Jalen Smith added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Turner had been averaging 13.8 points in five games after missing the season’s first four starts with a sore ankle.

‘My biggest thing is just trying to stay healthy and keep my rhythm going,’ Turner said. ‘It was a great individual performance, great team performance. All eyes forward.’

CELTICS SURVIVE LATE COMEBACK TO BEAT GRIZZLIES

Jayson Tatum scored 39 points, including a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds left, and the Boston Celtics held on for a 109-106 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

The Grizzlies inbounded the ball after Tatum’s free throws, but Ja Morant slipped in the backcourt and never got off a shot for a chance to tie the game.

Morant finished with 30 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Desmond Bane had 19 points for Memphis.

Jaylen Brown had 21 points and nine rebounds but made only one of his six 3-pointers for the Celtics, who were 12 of 37 from outside the arc. Al Horford and Marcus Smart had 15 points apiece, with Smart handing out 12 assists.

Memphis had rallied to take the lead entering the fourth quarter, but a 10-0 Boston rally in the middle stages of the period broke open a 90-90 tie and Boston went on to its third straight win.

But just barely, as Memphis tried to close the gap before falling short.

ROCKETS SNAP LOSING STREAK VS. MAGIC

Jalen Green scored 34 points, K.J. Martin came off the bench to add 21 and the Houston Rockets snapped a six-game losing streak with a 134-127 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

Green and Martin were among nine Rockets who made 3-pointers in the game. Houston was 24 for 48 (50%) from behind the arc. Coming into the game as the NBA’s poorest shooting team (42.4%), the Rockets shot 52.9% (46 for 87) in the win.

‘It was the ball movement that led to the 3-point shooting tonight for us,’ Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. ‘We’re not going to make 24 threes every night, but at least we’re creating opportunities for our teammates. I’ve been talking to them a lot about it and hopefully it’s sinking in.’

Eric Gordon, who made five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points and four assists, agreed.

‘That (ball movement) is why we scored a ton of points,’ Gordon said, ‘and we were knocking them down. We took advantage. It was just an offensive night for both teams and it was good that we made the most runs to win. We didn’t have too many droughts when we weren’t scoring.

Alperen Sengun had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Houston, and Kevin Porter Jr. added 17 points and 11 assists.

PISTONS ROLL OVER THUNDER WITH BIG SECOND HALF

Saddiq Bey scored 25 points, Cade Cunningham had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-103 on Monday night.

Rookie Jaden Ivey had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Isaiah Stewart had 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Pistons outscored the Thunder 64-40 in the second half.

‘At halftime, we talked about the way we came out for the game and how we needed to pick it up in the first three minutes of the second half,’ Bey said. ‘We focused on defense. We didn’t worry about whether shots were going in, because we know if we can get stops, we’ll get points.’

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points for the Thunder, but none of the other starters reached double figures.

‘I was impressed with the level of intensity they brought to the second half of the game,’ Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. ‘I thought they were the aggressor from the jump. We made a couple of attempts to try to get ourselves back in there, but they were the better team.’

WIZARDS DROP FIFTH STRAIGHT AS HORNETS ROLL

Kyle Kuzma scored 20 points and the Washington Wizards handed the slumping Charlotte Hornets their fifth straight loss, 108-100 on Monday night.

‘I liked his energy,’ coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. ‘He’s had some nagging bumps but he pushed through. He played with pace and he was aggressive. I think he helped set the tone.’

Kuzma, who has been battling a shoulder injury, called this a ‘must win’ for the Wizards, who entered the night having lost five of their last six games.

‘We have played some tough opponents and let some slip away, and then we have played down to the level of some opponents,’ Kuzma said. ‘That’s a recipe for disaster and that’s how you lose five out of six.’

Kristaps Porzingis had 19 points and eight rebounds and Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points on 7-of-7 shooting for the Wizards. Rui Hachimura provided a boost off the bench with 16 points.

JAZZ DOWN LEBRON-LESS LAKERS

Lauri Markkanen scored 23 points, Jordan Clarkson added 22 and the Utah Jazz beat Los Angeles 139-116 on Monday night, their second victory over the short-handed Lakers in four days.

LeBron James was sidelined along with Lonnie Walker IV, and Patrick Beverley, leaving Los Angeles with only 11 available players.

Anthony Davis scored a season-high 29 points and Russell Westbrook added 22 points off the bench as Los Angeles fell to 2-8.

The Jazz shot 56% from the field and made 16 3-pointers in their third straight win, with Markkanen and Clarkson combining for nine. Seven Jazz players scored in double figures.

Clarkson hit four three pointers — the final one beating the buzzer — to help Utah grab a 42-34 lead going into the second quarter. He totaled 15 points in the first quarter.

The Lakers trailed throughout the second quarter but made four straight baskets, highlighted by a pair of dunks from Davis, to cut the deficit to one at 67-66. Utah countered with three-point plays from Collin Sexton and Markkanen to keep Los Angeles from going in front before halftime.