Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), center, drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

NEW YORK (AP) — James Harden missed a jumper with a chance for the lead, tracked down the rebound and fired it out to a wide-open Kevin Durant.

Plays like that are why the Brooklyn Nets will be such tough opponents after reuniting the multi-time scoring champions. Even when teams stop one superstar, another might be there waiting.

“This is what they do. They wake up, come to the game and they score 30,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “If you’re not aggressive and you’re not locked in against them, they’re going to score 50.”

Durant made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds left, Harden had 34 points and 12 assists, and the Nets edged the Bucks 125-123 on Monday night. They are 2-0 since last week’s acquisition of Harden, who is averaging 33 points in his new uniform.

“We’re still trying to find our way and we’ve still got room to improve, but it’s a solid start,” Durant said.

Durant finished with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists to give the Nets their fourth straight victory in a game in which two of the East’s best went toe-to-toe right down to a tense finish that ended when Khris Middleton missed a potential winning 3-pointer from the corner.

“It’s a huge win for us,” Harden said. “This is our second game together and we haven’t had one practice.”

Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Milwaukee, which had its four-game winning streak stopped. Middleton added 25 points and Jrue Holiday had 22.

Harden had 11 points at halftime following his 32-point Nets debut, when he added 14 assists and 12 rebounds. But he picked it up in the second half and contributed to the biggest play of the game.

He swooped in to grab the rebound of his own 3-pointer that was off with the Nets trailing by two and passed to Durant, who nailed the shot that made it 125-123.

Durant could have put it away but turned it over on the Nets’ next possession, but they held on when Middleton’s shot was just off from in front of his bench.

Kyrie Irving missed his seventh straight game after leaving the team for personal reasons, with coach Steve Nash saying he could return Wednesday in Cleveland.

The Bucks host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

MIAMI RALLIES PAST DETROIT, 113-107

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat eventually showed up to a game already behind schedule.

Bam Adebayo had 28 points and 11 rebounds and the short-handed Heat got their biggest comeback win of the season, rallying from 19 down to beat the Detroit Pistons 113-107 on Monday night to snap a three-game slide.

Dragic scored 22 points for the Heat, who got 18 apiece from Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn.

Jerami Grant had 27 points for Detroit, but his layup that could have gotten the Pistons within three was blocked by Adebayo with 31 seconds left.

The Pistons visit Atlanta on Wednesday.