UNDATED (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are unbeaten since they traded losses and wins for their first five games of the NBA season.
James Harden scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter of the Nets’ fifth consecutive win, 116-103 at Toronto. Harden narrowly missed his second straight triple-double, finishing with 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Kevin Durant had 31 points to lead the Nets, while Blake Griffin chipped in 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
— Jordan Poole scored 15 of his 25 points in the first quarter as the Warriors dealt the Rockets their eighth straight loss, 120-107. Stephen Curry added 20 points and three steals to help the league leaders improve to 8-1 with their fourth victory in a row. Andrew Wiggins scored 16 points, and Draymond Green had six points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
— Ricky Rubio scored a career-high 37 to help the Cavaliers pick up their fourth straight win, 126-109 at New York. Evan Mobley added 26 points, Jarrett Allen had 18 and Darius Garland 16 to help Cleveland improve to 7-4. Julius Randle had a team-high 19 points in the Knicks’ third loss in their last four games.
— The Wizards had dropped eight straight to the Bucks before Bradley Beal dropped in 30 points and Kyle Kuzma had a double-double in Washington’s 101-94 victory against Milwaukee. Kuzma added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Montrezl Harrell also provided 15 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 18 rebounds for the defending champion Bucks, who have lost five of six to drop to 4-6.
— Cole Anthony scored 10 of his season-best 33 points in the fourth quarter and keyed a game-closing, 24-11 run that lifted the Magic past the Jazz, 107-100. Wendell Carter Jr. had a season-best 22 points and 15 rebounds for Orlando, which trailed 89-81 with eight minutes remaining. Utah lost its second straight since an 8-1 start despite Rudy Gobert’s 21 points and 15 boards.
— The Clippers won their fourth in a row as Paul George scored 20 points and Reggie Jackson added 19 in a 120-106 win against the Hornets. Luke Kennard had 18 points and Terance Mann furnished 17 with 10 rebounds. Los Angeles trailed by nine midway through the fourth quarter before scoring 22 straight points to take a 115-102 lead.
— Mike Muscala scored 20 points in just 14 minutes of the Thunder’s 99-94 downing of the Spurs. The 30-year-old Muscala made 5 of 6 field goals and 7 of 9 free throws in one of the most productive offensive games of his career. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City.
— The Pacers squandered a 15-point lead before winning in Sacramento for the first time since 2018, 94-91. Caris LeVert paced Indiana with 22 points and Domontas Sabonis posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Harrison Barnes scored 22 points for the Kings, who opened the fourth quarter on an 11-1 spurt to take a three-point lead.
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NBA urging booster shots
MIAMI (AP) — The NBA has told its players, coaches and referees that they should receive booster shots against the coronavirus.
The league and the players association placed particular urgency for those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, saying those who received the J&J shot more than two months ago should get a booster.
The booster recommendation also was made for those who received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine at least six months ago.
The league recommendations were acquired by The Associated Press and call for those who got Johnson & Johnson vaccines originally to seek a Pfizer or Moderna booster.
