'Weird coincidence': Kevin Durant tossed in strange NBA sequence

Kevin Durant was ejected from the Brooklyn Nets' thumping win over the Detroit Pistons in the second controversial moment for perennial MVP candidate in as many games.

Durant got tangled up with Detroit centre Kelly Olynyk, who had set a hard screen on the Nets centrepiece.

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After shoving Olynyk a couple of times, Durant caught the Pistons big man was a careless forearm to the chin, resulting in a swift ejection after being handed a flagrant foul 2.

His absence was no major obstacle for the Nets, who went on to claim a thumping 117-91 win over the Pistons, with Durant tallying 23 points and five assist before he was tossed.

It came just a couple of days after Durant inexplicably avoided another automatic ejection.

Durant, officials admitted after Brooklyn’s 105-96 win over the Indiana Pacers, should have been ejected from that contest after he threw the ball into the stands at the Barclays Center — which is a clear violation of NBA rules.

He was instead just hit with a technical foul, and allowed to stay in the game.

The Nets held a 17-point lead when Durant was tossed from the game on Sunday night, and cruised to the 26-point win even without him for the final quarter.

James Harden added 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to complete his triple-double, and LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 16 points off the bench.

However a grumpy couple of games didn't go unnoticed by fans, who were somewhat critical of what amounted to a couple of undisciplined plays from the veteran scorer.

“In real time, the official that made the call did not think the ball entered the stands with force,” crew chief Sean Wright said after the game.

“After seeing the video postgame, we did see that the ball did go into the stands with force and Kevin Durant should have been ejected.”

The league later announced that it had fined Durant $25,000 for the incident.

Jazz, Nets, Lakers ease to NBA victories

Boomers teammates Joe Ingles and Patty Mills have had quiet nights in the NBA but both wrapped up their weekends with respective team wins.

Ingles contributed five points, one rebound, one assist, and one block in Utah's 107-95 victory over short-handed Milwaukee, while Mills had seven points and two assists in Brooklyn's win.

Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points for the Jazz (5-1) who inflicted a third straight loss on the Bucks.

Mike Conley added 20 points, Jordan Clarkson had 15 and Bojan Bogdanovic added 14 to help Utah rebound from their first loss of the season at Chicago.

"We really executed when we needed to," Mitchell said.

"You look at tonight and you look at the way last night went, two polar opposite situations.

Without three regular starters, Giannis Antetokounmpo again led the way for Milwaukee (3-4) with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Harden had his 13th triple-double for the Nets with 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the hosts shot a franchise-record 65.3 per cent from the field.

In Charlotte, LaMelo Ball had 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to steer the Hornets to a 125-113 win over Portland.

"He has been fantastic," said James Borrego, who won his 100th game as head coach of the 5-2 Hornets.

"This why we brought him here. We believe in him. We believe there is a major role for him on this team and tonight was a great example."

With AAP

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