Durant, Harden lead Nets over Bucks; LeBron plays in loss

NEW YORK (AP) – Kevin Durant and James Harden were on the court, so the Nets looked somewhat like the team Milwaukee remembers from its last trip to Brooklyn. The players who helped the Bucks win that game just watched this one. The Nets beat the Bucks 119-115 on Friday night in an exhibition rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals, which the Bucks won by outlasting the Nets in a Game 7 that went to overtime. Durant scored 18 points and Joe Harris had 15 on five 3-pointers. Harden shot 3 for 9 and scored eight as the two former MVPs got their first action of the preseason. Later Friday, two others also got their first work as LeBron James and Russell Westbrook started for the Lakers in their 121-114 loss at Golden State. The Nets and Bucks will meet again Oct. 19 in Milwaukee in the NBA season opener and that’s when the Nets will see the real Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday all watched Friday’s game, along with Brook Lopez and key rotation players such as Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. Jordan Nwora scored 30 points for Milwaukee and Elijah Bryant had 21 points and eight rebounds. The game in Brooklyn was one of two Game 7 rematches on Friday’s exhibition schedule. The Los Angeles Clippers lost to Dallas, the team they went the distance to beat in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Kyrie Irving was ineligible to play but the Nets got good news about him. The team was told Friday that its training center is considered a private facility and doesn’t fall under New York’s coronavirus vaccination mandate. Professional athletes in the city must be vaccinated to play or practice in public venues. Coach Steve Nash said Irving could join the team for practice this weekend, though wasn’t sure if the All-Star guard would play Monday at Philadelphia because he hasn’t practiced since they returned from training camp in San Diego last Sunday. ‘œAt least he can practice, but I mean we want him here for the whole thing,’� Durant said. Paul Millsap didn’t play for the Nets because of health and safety protocols. WARRIORS 121 LAKERS 114 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Steph Curry scored 30 points and Jordan Poole added 28 as Golden State beat Los Angeles. LeBron James scored nine points on 4-for-12 shooting in over 17 minutes, and Russell Westbrook finished with seven rebounds and six turnovers. Carmelo Anthony scored four points on 1-for-7 shooting. Despite shooting 3 for 14 from 3-point range, Curry was 9 for 10 from 2-point range. Poole shot 10 for 19, including 6 for 13 beyond the arc. Fifty-six of Golden State’s 97-shot attempts (57.7%) were from beyond the arc. Dwight Howard had 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and 7-for-11 sniping from the line for the Lakers. PACERS 109, CAVALIERS 100 CLEVELAND (AP) ‘” Malcolm Brogdon scored 27 points on 12-for-14 shooting and Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 10 rebounds as Indiana beat Cleveland. Chris Duarte and Myles Turner each scored 11 for the Pacers, who dominated the interior with a 50-30 rebounding advantage. Ricky Rubio scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting for the Cavs in 18 minutes. Dylan Windler scored 12, Lauri Markkanen 11 and Collin Sexton 10 on 4-for-15 shooting. Sexton is 14 for 41 in three preseason games. BULLS 121, PELICANS 85 CHICAGO (AP) ‘” Zach LaVine scored 21 points in 28 minutes, Lonzo Ball added 19 against his former team and Chicago routed New Orleans. Ball was 5 for 6 on 3-pointers and had five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Nikola Vucevic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four of the Bulls’ 14 steals. Rookie Trey Murphy III scored 17 points for New Orleans. Naji Marshall had 16 and Jonas Valanciunas 14.