Kevin Durant impressed on his latest return from injury as the Brooklyn Nets got the better of the Phoenix Suns 128-119.
Durant, who sat out the last three games in his most recent injury setback of the season, scored 33 points in his 28 minutes of action.
Phoenix's Devin Booker top-scored with 36 points, but the performance of Durant and his All-Star team-mate Kyrie Irving (34 points, 12 assists) secured victory for the NBA's Eastern Conference leaders against the team second in the west.
33 points in 28 minutes. Yep, @KDTrey5 is back. 📼 HIGHLIGHTS 📼 pic.twitter.com/iwimZexF83 — Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 26, 2021
Durant's night was rounded off when Two Distant Strangers, a project on which he and Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley served as executive producers, won best live-action short film at the Oscars on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Steph Curry built on his historic month to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 117-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Curry shot seven threes to finish with 37 points and set an NBA record for three-pointers in a calendar month at 85.
Steph Curry (37 PTS) knocks down 7 threes to bring his April total to 85.. the most threes made over a calendar month in @NBAHistory!@StephenCurry30 x #DubNation pic.twitter.com/dsgIBtBtWv — NBA (@NBA) April 26, 2021
The two-time MVP also produced an important block on Richaun Holmes in the dying stages of the game as the Warriors maintained their fight for a play-off spot.
Atlanta earned a statement victory over Milwaukee as the Hawks toppled the Bucks 111-104.
The loss may prove to be the death knell in Milwaukee's quest to finish first in the Eastern Conference as the Bucks slip to 3.5 games behind Brooklyn.
That'll do it 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Osrv9o4rgj — Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 26, 2021
The Charlotte Hornets beat the Boston Celtics 125-104 on the back of Devonte Graham's 24-point performance.
Charlotte went 10-12 from the field to start the game and never let up from there as they pulled within two games of the Celtics for the sixth spot in the east.
Four @hornets score 20+ points in their home win! 🐝 @Devonte4Graham: 24 PTS, 9 AST🐝 @PJWashington: 22 PTS, 12 REB🐝 @T_Rozzay3: 21 PTS, 11 AST🐝 @MilesBridges: 20 PTS pic.twitter.com/gTwOI80seR — NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2021
The Memphis Grizzlies held off a late rally to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-113.
And the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers both kept their play-off hopes alive with respective wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.
