UNDATED (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 32 points in three quarters of a top-to-bottom blowout that sent the Brooklyn Nets halfway to the Eastern Conference finals with a 125-86 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Playing without the injured James Harden but showing no hint that they needed him, the Nets led by as much as 49 points and held the NBA’s highest-scoring team 34 points below its season average. Kyrie Irving added 22 points and Bruce Brown filled in nicely for Harden with 13 points and six rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks but was thoroughly outplayed by Durant in a matchup of NBA MVP winners.
And in Monday’s other playoff action:
— The Phoenix Suns cruised in the second half to a 122-105 win over Denver Nuggets. Chris Paul had 21 points and 11 assists despite recent injuries that have slowed him. The Suns had four players with 20 or more points. The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic had 22 points.
