OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Kevin Durant had 28 points and 11 assists, Quinn Cook scored a season-high 27 in place of injured Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors used another big run in the third quarter to pull away and beat the Brooklyn Nets 116-100 on Saturday.
Klay Thompson added 24 points on an uneven shooting night while Damian Jones had eight points and six rebounds for the Warriors.
Two days after losing Curry to a groin injury in a 23-point home loss to Milwaukee, Golden State bounced back with little problem while their leading scorer sat at home watching.
Draymond Green was also missing from Steve Kerr’s lineup but Durant made both absences a moot point while ending Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak.
The nine-time All-Star had 13 points in the first quarter, scored the final six of the second then came up big again in the third when the Warriors led by as many as 20.
Cook was pretty good, too.
Signed on a two-way contract a year ago when he made 18 starts while Curry was out with ankle and knee injuries, Cook looked just as comfortable this time around. He made his first seven shots and matched Durant with 19 points in the first half, then made a shot-clock beating 19-footer in the third to push the Warriors lead to 103-81.
Golden State needed it on a night when their other Splash Brother, Thompson, had an off night shooting. Thompson made four of his first five shots but finished 11 of 20.
Joe Harris scored 24 points for the Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie added 14 points and six assists and DeAngelo Russell had 12 points.
TIP-INS
Nets: Brooklyn has lost eight straight to Golden State. … The Nets haven’t won our consecutive games since a six-game streak in 2014-15.
Warriors: Golden State is 51-12 following losses since 2014-15. … Curry did not play as expected but was feeling better after getting some work in with team trainer Rick Celebrini at the team’s downtown facility. “I saw him this morning,” Kerr said. “He had better mobility, less pain so it’s a good sign.” The two-time NBA MVP is nursing a mild to moderate left groin strain suffered Thursday in the loss against Milwaukee. … Green missed his second straight game because of a sprained right toe. … Shaun Livingston (right foot soreness) was also held out.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Minnesota on Monday.
Warriors: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
