BROOKLYN, N.Y. — James Harden scored 27 points, LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 and Kevin Durant 23 to help the Brooklyn Nets beat the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 109-99 on Wednesday.
Patty Mills added 21 points to give the Nets four 20-point scorers for the first time this season. Brooklyn improved to 11-5 with its eighth victory in 10 games.
Ricky Rubio led Cleveland with 25 points, Darius Garland added 24 and Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, and Dean Wade each had 11. The Cavs dropped to 9-7.
Cleveland entered the night without star rookie Evan Mobley, who will miss up to a month with a sprained elbow. Center Jarrett Allen also sat for a second straight game with an unspecified illness, while Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen remain sidelined as well. Love did return after missing eight in a row due to being placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols.
The Cavaliers have dropped two in a row following a recent hot streak, but will have a chance to get back on track Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse against Golden State. The Warriors enter with the league's best record at 12-2.
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