Kevin Durant scored 27 points, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Charlotte Hornets 98-94.
Durant’s 3-pointer answered P.J. Washington’s 3-pointer and put the Nets back ahead for good with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets got within 96-94 on Mason Plumlee’s tip-in with 27 seconds to play, but Cam Thomas answered with 2 free throws, and the Hornets got no closer.
Durant’s 13-foot jumper with 32.8 seconds left made it 96-92.
During clutch time, the Nets outscored the Hornets 16-7. Durant scored 7 of the Nets’ 16 on 2 for 3 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
Thomas scored 21 points off the bench, and Nic Claxton added 11 points (10 in the paint), 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 blocks.
For the Hornets, Terry Rozier scored 25 points (7 during a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter) with 6 3-pointers.
The Nets went 20 for 22 at the line to the Hornets’ 16 for 23. The Nets outscored the Hornets 21-7 in 6 minutes with Durant, Harris, O'Neale, Watanabe and Thomas on the floor together.