Kevin Durant scored 31 points, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks 113-105.
Durant’s 19-foot pull-up jumper put the Nets ahead for good with 7:02 left in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks got within 103-102 on Trae Young’s driving layup with 3:35 to play, but James Harden answered with a driving layup, and the Hawks got no closer.
During clutch time, the Nets outscored the Hawks 6-3. Durant (No. 6 in clutch points, 2021-22) scored 4 of the Nets’ 6 on 1 for 2 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line. Late in the fourth quarter, James Johnson had 2 of his 3 steals, 1 of them during an 8-0 Nets run, and the Nets scored 4 points off them.
Harden had 20 points and 11 assists, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 15 points (10 in the paint), 3 steals and 3 blocks on 7 for 10 shooting.
For the Hawks, Young had 31 points and 10 assists, and John Collins added 20 points (10 in the paint). Clint Capela had 14 points and 16 rebounds.
The Nets shot 49.5% from the field to the Hawks’ 39.4%.