Last Week: Lost to Detroit Pistons 122-111, Beat Indiana Pacers 104-94, Beat Golden State Warriors 134-117
This Week: 2/15 at Sacramento Kings, 2/16 at Phoenix Suns, 2/18 at Los Angeles Lakers
The Brooklyn Nets got the exact right start they needed to a five-game Pacific Division road trip as Kevin Durant made his return to Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors. For the second time this season, the Nets’ offense was too much for the Warriors to overcome, even if the box score looked different than Nets fans would have expected coming in.
Durant suited up for the first time since he was jerked in and out of the lineup against the Toronto Raptors and then missed a week for health and safety protocols. The former MVP was a little rusty but still dropped 20 points on his former team. He was one of six Nets in double figures. In fact, everyone that played (besides three minutes from new addition Noah Vonleh) scored at least eight points. The well-rounded offensive attack was perfect for taking down the Warriors.
With Deandre Jordan out of the lineup for personal reasons, the Nets began the game with a lineup akin to the death lineup from Durant’s Warriors days: Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Joe Harris and Bruce Brown. This could be the squad that closes many games for the Nets, depending on the type of center the opposing team has. There is more to take from this than the double-digit loss to the Detroit Pistons without Kevin Durant.