via Imago
Dec 30, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) talks with referee Courtney Kirkland (61) during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
via Imago
Dec 30, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) talks with referee Courtney Kirkland (61) during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Durant and the Nets traveled to Oregon to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. They lost 114-108 to a depleted Blazers squad. James Harden sat out because of a left knee hyperextension, but Kyrie Irving returned to the lineup as it was a road game. The Blazers took an early lead, but the Nets fought back and took the lead at halftime. Eventually, the Blazers took back the lead and held on to win their sixteenth game of the season.
Durant lead all scorers with 28 points and 10 rebounds while Kyrie ended with 22 points in his second game of the season. Meanwhile, Anfernee Simons led the scoring for the Blazers with 23 points and 11 assists while Robert Covington had 21 points, as all of the Blazers starters finished in double digits. This marked the fifth loss for the Nets in seven games while the Blazers have won two games in a row.
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There was a play in the second quarter in which Covington fouled Kevin Durant. KD seemed to get hit in the face and even looked hurt. Just as Steve Nash called a timeout, Nurkic appeared to call out Durant, and called him “a soft a**”. However, Durant was unfazed by it and just chose not to respond as he walked to the bench.
Kevin Durant doesn’t want to give any excuses for the Nets slump
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 30, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) slaps hands with Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Monday’s loss marks the fourth defeat for the Nets in 2022, but Kevin Durant wasn’t willing to provide any excuses. When asked if playing back-to-back games on different coasts was the reason for the defeat, Durant said “Who cares? It’s a part of the game. It’s a part of who we are. We’ve been in the league. We got young dudes. Who cares?… We still had opportunity to win this game. So, who cares?”.
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Kevin Durant didn’t want to make any excuses about playing a back-to-back in Brooklyn and Portland, or having a heavy schedule coming up:
“Who cares? That’s what championship teams go through – a little adversity…everybody’s schedule is f–ked up” pic.twitter.com/KVncveDOO1
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 11, 2022
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He further added “That’s what championship teams go through – a little adversity… I’m not making any excuses about no flights or our schedule. Everybody’s schedule is f–ked up. Let’s talk about the game. They made timely shots… That’s why we lost. ”
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