Staff Reporter.
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant was ejected and James Harden registered his 59th career triple-double in a 117-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Durant was thrown out of the game with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter after his right forearm and elbow hit Kelly Olynyk’s face during an off-ball tussle just outside the paint. He had shot 10-13 from the field before getting ejected.
Olynyk made the two free throws after the flagrant 2 foul, and Cory Joseph hit a basket, but the Nets ended the third period on an 11-2 run and led 96-74 heading into the fourth.
James Harden produced his 59th career regular-season triple-double with 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in only three quarters as the Nets led by as many as 30. It was also Harden’s 13th triple-double during his short time with the Nets.
To make matters worse for the Pistons, the Nets shot a franchise-record 65.3 percent from the field, making 47 of 72 attempts. Their previous high was 65.2 percent on April 17, 1982, also against Detroit.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field (after getting his 20,000th career point on Friday night), DeAndre Bembry scored 15 points and Joe Harris had 12 as Brooklyn won consecutive games for the first time this season in commanding fashion.
Elsewhere, a Carmelo Anthony-inspired Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 95-85 win over the Houston Rockets.
Anthony top scored with 23 points, including five three pointers, while Russell Westbrook added 20 points.
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points as he led the Utah Jazz to a 107-95 victory against reigning champions the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 25 points for the Bucks who were without Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez and slumped to a fourth defeat in seven games this season.
Luka Doncic capped a 23-point display with a crucial three-pointer as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings 105-99.