Irving, Durant lead Nets past Cavs for 9th straight win

With a 125-117 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, led by 32-point efforts from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the Brooklyn Nets have won nine consecutive games, matching their best winning run since the team relocated to the city.

The Nets won despite Darius Garland’s incredible 46-point outburst, which put the Cavs within striking distance in the fourth quarter.

With 13 straight victories, Brooklyn is emerging as a legitimate title contender in the NBA.

The Nets beat Milwaukee by 18 points last Friday, and T.J. Warren scored a season-high 23 points in the victory. The Bucks are one of the teams the Nets are pursuing in the Eastern Conference rankings.

Previously ranked at number 16, Durant is now tied for 15th all-time with Tim Duncan (26,496) in points scored.

Despite being booed virtually every time he touched the ball, Irving made a season-high seven 3-pointers and two crucial free throws with 41.1 seconds left. Fans in Cleveland had cheered for Irving for six seasons.

142 CLIPPERS, 131 PISTONS, 0 OVERTIME

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Associated Press) — In an overtime victory over the Pistons, Los Angeles was led by Paul George’s 32 points as they erased a 14-point deficit in the last 3:34 of regulation.

The Clippers were down 126-112 with 3:34 to go when Terance Mann made a jumper with five seconds remaining to tie the game. In the overtime session, Los Angeles dominated the Pistons, outscoring them 14-3.