NBA Roundup: Kyrie Irving scores 36 points in return to Brooklyn

NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving scored 36 points in a dazzling return to Brooklyn exactly one year after he was traded to Dallas, leading the Mavericks to a 119-107 victory over the Nets on Tuesday night. 

Luka Doncic had 35 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists as the Mavericks’ guard tandem took turns hitting some deep 3-pointers in the second half when the Nets were trying to make a run.

Irving was booed when he touched the ball in the early going but was later cheered for plays including his slam of a lob pass in the third quarter.

Mikal Bridges scored 28 points and Royce O’Neal had 18 for the short-handed Nets, who trimmed a 23-point deficit to 107-101 with about five minutes remaining before Irving knocked down two straight 3-pointers for a 113-101 lead.

SUNS 114, BUCKS 106

[brightcove videoID=6346393868112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 32 points, Kevin Durant added 28 Phoenix beat short-handed Milwaukee.

Durant hit five straight shots and had 14 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks played without star guard Damian Lillard, who missed the game with a sprained ankle, and starting center Brook Lopez, who was out for personal reasons. Milwaukee forward Khris Middleton left in the first quarter with a sprained ankle.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting and had 10 rebounds. The Bucks fell to 1-4 since hiring coach Doc Rivers, who replaced the fired Adrian Griffin.

BULLS 129, TIMBERWOLVES 123, OT

[brightcove videoID=6346389472112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White and DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points apiece, and Chicago erased a 23-point deficit to beat Anthony Edwards and Minnesota in overtime.

Nikola Vucevic had 24 points for the Bulls, and Andre Drummond finished with 16 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Edwards had 38 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who had won three of four. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 33 points, and his 3-pointer tied it at 115-all with 50.5 seconds left in regulation. He made seven 3s.

DeRozan scored the Bulls’ first six points of overtime.

KNICKS 123, GRIZZLIES 113

[brightcove videoID=6346389546112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson had 27 points and eight assists before exiting with an apparent ankle injury, Donte DiVincenzo had 32 points, and New York beat short-handed Memphis.

Isaiah Hartenstein had 17 points and eight rebounds and Precious Achiuwa scored 17 as the Knicks shot 55.8% and won for the 10th time in their past 11 games, improving to 16-3 over their last 19.

Vince Williams Jr. scored 19 points for Memphis.

Brunson appeared to injure his ankle when he was fouled by G.G. Jackson in the fourth quarter.

HEAT 121, MAGIC 95

[brightcove videoID=6346395519112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler scored 23 points to lead seven Miami players in double figures, and the Heat beat Orlando.

Butler also had eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals for the Heat, who won for just the second time in their last seven home games. Terry Rozier scored 18 while Tyler Herro and All-Star Bam Adebayo each scored 13 for Miami, which won the season series against Orlando 3-1.

All-Star forward Paolo Banchero scored 23 for Orlando, the 18th consecutive road game in which he’s scored at least 20 points — tying Tracy McGrady for the second-longest such streak in Magic history.

PACERS 132, ROCKETS 129

[brightcove videoID=6346391043112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

INDIANAPOLIS — Pascal Siakam scored 29 points and teamed up with T.J. McConnell to spur a third-quarter comeback as Indiana beat Houston.

The Rockets led 85-75 early in the third, but the Pacers allowed just 14 points the rest of the period.

McConnell had 17 points and four assists as the Pacers won for the second time in three days. They’ve won nine straight in the series.

Jalen Green had 30 points to lead the Rockets, who have lost two straight. Dillon Brooks added 23 points and rookie Amen Thompson finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

JAZZ 124, THUNDER 117

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen had 33 points and 11 rebounds as Utah beat Oklahoma City.

John Collins chipped in 22 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz. Keyonte George added 16 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 28 points and seven assists. Jalen Williams scored 26 points and Chet Holmgren added 22. The Thunder fell percentage points behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the best record in the Western Conference.