UNDATED (AP) — James Harden averaged 8 1/2 points below his career average during the Brooklyn Nets’ first five games this season. He broke through on Friday by scoring a team-high 29 points in a 105-98 victory over Indiana.
Harden scored 13 points during a 28-9 run that gave the Nets a three-point lead at halftime.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half to help Brooklyn improve to 3-3. Aldridge became the 48th player in league history and the seventh active player to score 20,000 points.
Kevin Durant added 22 to the victory.
Checking out Friday’s other NBA action:
— Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and the Heat wasted most of a 26-point lead before posting a 114-99 win against the Hornets. Bam Adebayo had 26 points and 19 rebounds on the night his Olympic gold-medalist banner was unveiled in Miami. Tyler Herro (HEE’-roh) scored 26 points off the bench for Miami, which enjoyed a 60-37 rebounding advantage.
— Carmelo Anthony nailed six 3-pointers while furnishing 24 points in the Lakers’ third win in four games, 113-101 over the Cavaliers. LeBron James scored 26 points and Russell Westbrook added 19 with six boards, helping LA end Cleveland’s three-game winning streak. Rookie Evan Mobley led the Cavs with 23 points.
— Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) shook off a bruised right knee to deliver 11 points and 16 rebounds in the Nuggets’ 106-75 stifling of the Mavericks. Jokic was a game-time decision after hurting his knee Tuesday in Utah. Will Barton added 17 points for Denver, which outscored Dallas, 32-12 in the third quarter.
— Toronto has its first home win of the season after Fred VanVleet scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter of the Raptors’ 110-109 decision over the Magic. Gary Trent Jr. had 19 points and made a crucial defensive play on the game’s final possession. Scottie Barnes had 21 points to lead the Raptors.
— The Kings picked up a 133-109 win over the Pelicans as De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points and Richaun Holmes added 21. Harrison Barnes had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Buddy Hield scored 20 points for Sacramento, which has started the season with three road victories and two home losses. Jonas Valanciunas (YOH’-nuhs val-ehn-CHOO’-nuhs) had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Pelicans.
NBA-NEWS
Hawks’ Young fined
UNDATED (AP) — Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for making contact with a game official.
The incident occurred midway through the second quarter of Atlanta’s loss to the Wizards on Thursday.
Young complained about the officiating after the game and said new rules regarding defensive calls have dropped the scoring averages of some of the league’s top players.
Also in the NBA:
— Bulls forward Patrick Williams will be sidelined for four to six months after tearing ligaments in his left wrist during Thursday’s loss to the Knicks. The team says Williams will need surgery, keeping the Bulls without one of their promising young players. Williams averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 71 games as a rookie last season after being taken fourth overall in the 2020 NBA draft.