James Harden scored 27 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 120-105 Saturday night despite losing to Kevin Durant in the first half with a left knee sprain.
Durant was injured with 5:44 left in the second quarter when New Orleans forward Herbert Jones was driving into the field and collided with Nets reserve Bruce Brown, who fell backward on Durant’s knee.
Durant limped briefly onto the field before asking to be removed from the game. He finished all 12 points and walked with a limp when he left the ring midway through the fourth quarter. Coach Steve Nash said he will have an MRI test on Sunday.
Patty Mills added 21 points and Kessler Edwards added 16 to the Nets, who were not late in the game.
Brandon Ingram scored 22 points and Josh Hart 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who won two points in a row.
Harden had 13 points and 11 assists as the Nets jumped to 69-41 in the first half, shooting 26 of 48 from the field, including 8 of 16 from behind the 3-point streak.
New Orleans advanced 11-0 to cut the lead to 71-55 with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter before Mills played three points to end the Nets drought.
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