Durant scores 45, carries Nets to 109-102 win over Magic
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets blocks a shot by Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at Barclays Center on November 28, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges
NEW YORK (AP) - Kevin Durant scored a season-high 45 points, carrying the Brooklyn Nets to a 109-102 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night that got them back to .500.
Durant shot 19 of 24 from the field and added seven rebounds and five assists, playing 39 minutes on the second night of back-to-back games.
Kyrie Irving added 20 points and Nic Claxton had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets (11-11), who had to play the second half without Ben Simmons after he was bothered by knee soreness.
Paolo Banchero and Bol Bol each scored 24 points and Franz Wagner chipped in 21 for the Magic, who have lost five straight games and seven of their last eight.
Durant broke a 60-all tie with a pair of baskets during an 8-0 run that helped the Nets take a 68-60 lead with 7:41 left in the third quarter. He later sparked a 10-0 spurt down the stretch with seven points of his own and a block that gave the Nets an 87-76 lead heading into fourth quarter.
The All-Star forward was 8 for 9 for 19 points in the third.
Brooklyn led by as many as 11 points early in the final period before Bol knocked down a runner to cut the lead 106-102 with 1:01 remaining in regulation.
Claxton was fouled by Bol on the ensuing possession and made one free throw. Wagner then missed a 3-pointer and Irving found Claxton wide open for a dunk that sealed the victory.
Durant scored 17 points in the first half to help Brooklyn take a 52-51 advantage into the third quarter.
The Nets have won four consecutive games at Barclays Center.
TIP-INS
Magic: Orlando at one point missed 17 consecutive shots that spanned a little over 10 minutes between the end of the first quarter and the second quarter before Wagner hit a jumper with 7:04 left in the period.
Nets: G Joe Harris scored 17 points.
UP NEXT
Magic: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Nets: Continue their seven-game homestand against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.