Kevin Durant scored 39 points (16 in the first quarter), and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Washington Wizards 113-107.
Durant’s 20-foot pull-up jumper put the Nets ahead for good with 2:47 left in the third quarter.
The Wizards got within 80-78 on Kyle Kuzma’s free throw with 11:55 to play, but Cam Thomas answered with 2 free throws, and the Wizards got no closer than 82-79.
During clutch time, the Nets outscored the Wizards 6-0. Durant scored 4 of the Nets’ 6 on 1 for 1 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
Kyrie Irving scored 27 points (15 in the fourth quarter). Irving scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter.
For the Wizards, Kristaps Porziņģis had 27 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, and Bradley Beal added 25 points and 6 assists. Kuzma scored 25 points. The Wizards had 3 20-point scorers.
The Nets shot 46.4% from the field and 42.3% from 3 to the Wizards’ 43.8% and 25.0%. The Wizards forced 9 turnovers, about 4 fewer than usual for this many possessions. They outscored the Nets 56-32 in the paint.