Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Runs Pelicans Out of the Building

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WEDNESDAY

Pelicans 111

Nets     139

FINAL

Kevin Durant Plays in Support of Starting Lineup During Return to Action

The intersection at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues is a dangerous place for Pelicans, but that didn't stop the Nets from running them out of Barclays Center by 28 points.  

Brooklyn obliterated New Orleans from behind the arc, shooting 19/46 (46.3%) versus just 6/27 for the Pelicans.  The Nets were plus-five in rebounding and razzle-dazzled to a plus-14 in assists.  Brooklyn also outscored the Pelicans by six in the paint and rushed off to a 22-12 edge in fastbreak points. 

James Harden is out, but Kevin Durant is back.  Easing him back into the flow, Coach Nash limited Durant to 19 minutes off the bench.  Otherwise, in his first game back since Feb. 13 against Golden State, KD was a perfect 5/5 from the field, including 2/2 from behind the arc and 5/5 from the line for 19 points, along with seven rebounds and five assists.  Blake Griffin also returned to the floor with ten points in 13 minutes off the bench.

Kyrie Irving again led the Nets with 24 points in 30 minutes.  However, veteran LaMarcus Aldridge was the big man on campus with 22 points in 23 minutes.  Joe Harris is next in with 14 points in 22 minutes.

Coach Nash emptied the bench with the exception of DeAndre Jordan, who once again was the lone Net to not touch the floor.  Chris Chiozza scored twelve points with a game-high eight assists in 18 minutes, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot once again saw big minutes.

With Wednesday's victory, the Nets take over sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference by one-half game over the idle Philadelphia Sixers.

The Nets are off until Saturday when they host the LeBronless defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.