UNDATED (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets welcomed back Kyrie Irving after the All-Star guard missed a three-game road trip last week for family reasons.
Irving started strong, but James Harden was excellent down the stretch as the Nets cobbled together a 112-107 win over the Timberwolves.
Harden had 38 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to tie the Nets’ single-season record of 12 triple-doubles, doing it in just 32 games.
Irving finished with 27 points in the Nets’ 18th win in 21 games. He was 6 for 7 for 15 points in the first quarter, when the Nets shot 70% en route to a 37-25 lead.
Brooklyn led by 17 and was ahead most of the way, but Edwards had a basket while being fouled to cut it to 108-107 with 58 seconds to play.
Checking out Monday’s other NBA action:
— Donovan Mitchell furnished 19 points and Rudy Gobert added 18 with 17 rebounds to power the Jazz to their sixth straight win, a 114-75 thrashing of the Cavaliers. Mitchell has averaged 29.2 points on 50% shooting and 46% from 3-point range since the All-Star break. Mike Conley contributed 18 points for the Jazz, who have won 20 straight at home after dropping their first two home games of the season.
— Marcus Morris contributed 25 points and three other Clippers starters had at least 20 points in a 129-105 trouncing of the Bucks. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points and nine rebounds as Los Angeles won its sixth in a row. Luke Kennard had a season-high 21 points and Reggie Jackson added 20 points in the rout.
— Zion Williamson scored 28 points and the Pelicans blew most of a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead before completing a 115-109 victory at Boston. Brandon Ingram had 25 points and nine assists, while Josh Hart accounted15 points and 15 rebounds in New Orleans’ fourth win in five games. It was the first Celtics home game to be played in front of fans since last March.
— The Heat’s six-game losing streak is over after Jimmy Butler scored 27 points in a 98-88 downing of the Knicks. Bam Adebayo scored 20 points, Duncan Robinson added 20, and Tyler Herro finished with 18 as Miami improved to 23-24 Julius Randle led New York with 22 points, but the Knicks ended a there-game winning streak and dropped to 24-23.
— Stephen Curry made a triumphant return from a five-game absence with a bruised tailbone, scoring 32 points and nailing six 3-pointers in the Warriors, 116-102 verdict over the Bulls. Draymond Green contributed 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds as Golden State halted a four-game skid. Nikola Vucevic had 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists in his second game with Chicago.
— Luka Doncic scored 25 points and the Mavericks shot 53% in a 127-106 drubbing of the Thunder. Doncic was back in action after sitting out Friday’s loss to Indiana with back soreness and Saturday’s loss to New Orleans with a non-COVID-19 illness. Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and nine rebounds for Dallas.
— The Kings picked up their fifth cosnecutive win, 132-115 over the Spurs as De’Aaron Fox contributed 24 points and Richaun Holmes added 23 with 12 rebounds. Buddy Hield added 20 points for Sacramento, which has won seven of eight. The Kings starters combined to score 96 points, with each contributing 14 and playing 30-plus minutes.
— Jonas Valanciunas scored a season-high 30 points, including eight down the stretch in a 120-110 win for the Grizzlies against the Rockets. Valanciunas also had 15 rebounds and made two consecutive baskets to extend the Memphis lead to 114-106 with two minutes to go. Houston fell for the 21st time in 22 games despite Jae’Sean Tate’s 24 points.
— Saben Lee scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half in his second career start, helping the Pistons knock down the Raptors by a 118-104 margin. Fellow rookie Saddiq Bey also scored 19 points and Hamidou Diallo added 19 of his own. Fred VanVleet scored 22 for the Raptors, who lost for the 12th time in 13 games.
— Russell Westbrook had 35 points, a season-high 21 assists and 14 rebounds for his league-leading 16th triple-double, helping the Wizards to a 132-124 win over the Pacers. Westbrook also claimed the franchise career triple-double record in just his 38th game with the Wizards, this one coming while teammate and NBA leading scorer Bradley Beal sat out with a bruised hip.
