The Brooklyn Nets arrived in Indianapolis without Kyrie Irving and James Harden. So, Kevin Durant had all the responsibility going into their game against the Indiana Pacers. He came off the bench in their last few games and finally got a start tonight.
It was a vintage Durant performance as the Slim Reaper punished the Pacers with 42 points. He shot an excellent 16-24 from the field, 2-4 from three, and a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line.
The Nets didn’t feel the absence of their two playmakers as Durant stepped up in that department as well. He had 10 assists too, as he displayed his underrated passing skills.
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Along with fans, Durant’s colleagues, both current and former NBA players, were impressed by his majestic performance. Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins were among the ones praising him on Twitter.
Perkins rightly mentioned that despite the NFL Draft going on, Durant’s performance was still trending across social media. Very few players have the power to do that, and KD is one of them.
Durant also became the first Nets player with a 40 points and 10 assists game on 65% shooting since 1980. It was his 57th career 40-point game, and only LeBron James and James Harden have more among active players.
Is Kevin Durant on his way to a third NBA ring?
After a successful tenure with the Warriors, Durant moved to the Nets to start a new legacy. He joined forces with Kyrie Irving as they aimed to bring the Nets to glory.
But despite their excellence, winning a title would have been tough for them since the league had gotten better. So, they made a massive trade to acquire James Harden, which instantly made them favourites.
Since then, they have been playing like the favourites too and are stomping their opposition.
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Durant has been on and off due to multiple injuries. He has avoided risking it and has taken ample time off to be fully healthy.
And now that he is back to his best, he looks dangerous. If he gets going like he did tonight, teams will have a hard time beating the Nets.
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With two rings in his bag already, this is the best chance he could have in a few years to get his third.
ALSO READ – ‘Biggest Factor’: Former NBA Champion Reveals Why Kevin Durant Left Russell Westbrook and OKC