Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant Whips Up a San Francisco Treat

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Kevin Durant Returns to The Bay

SATURDAY

Nets           134

Warriors    117

FINAL

The Flatbush Three Play Just Their Sixth Game Together

Kevin Durant last graced the hardwood in San Francisco back during the 2018-2019 NBA Finals as a Warrior.  It was Game 5 at Toronto in which he ruptured his right Achilles.  On Saturday, he made his long-awaited return to the Bay, where he helped lead Brooklyn to a seventeen point margin of victory over the Golden State Warriors.

The Flatbush Three were back together again.  Playing in his first game since Feb. 5, after sitting out a mandatory quarantine, Durant struggled somewhat, shooting 8/19 and just 1/6 from beyond the arc and 3/4 from the line for twenty points in 33 minutes.  His former teammate Steph Curry led the floor with 27 points but similarly struggled for 2/9 from beyond the arc.

Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 23 points in 34 minutes.  James Harden scored 19 points while securing a team-high eight rebounds (all defensive) and distributing a game-high 16 assists.

DeAndre Jordan did not play, out with a sore back.  In turn, Coach Nash plugged a third person into the backcourt, tasking Bruce Brown with a start, who answered with 18 points and seven rebounds (game-high four offensive boards) in 22 minutes.  Joe Harris finished with 15 points in 27 minutes but took the least shots of Brooklyn's starting five.  Jeff Green was effective off the bench with 14 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes.  

This marks Brooklyn's second victory over Golden State this season.  The Nets posted a 26 point victory over the Warriors on Opening Night at Barclays Center.  That was before the trade to acquire James Harden.  

Since The Beard arrived in Flatbush, the Nets have played fifteen games with a 9-6 record.  Of those fifteen games, Durant, Irving, and Harden have played together just six times with a 5-1 record.  Durant has missed the most games with six, followed by Irving with three, while Harden has missed just one game.  

Milwaukee and the Nets are the lone two NBA clubs averaging more than 120 points per game.  The third-place Clippers are a distant five points per game behind.  At last check, through 26 games the Bucks are averaging 121.1 points per game.  The Nets entered Saturday's action averaging 120.4 points per game.  However, since the arrival of Harden, the Nets five times have scored 130 or more points and are otherwise averaging 122.9 points over the last fifteen games.  When the triumvirate is together, the Nets average 125.1 points per game.

Forty-four games remain in the regular season.  Considering there is no semblance of practice, that leaves ample time to iron out the wrinkles.

In the meantime, expectations mount.