The Brooklyn Nets bought one in every of their All-Stars again within the combine, whilst one other one rests.
Kevin Durant got here off the bench in Brooklyn’s 139-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans and it proved to be one thing of a triumphant return. The previous two-time Finals MVP was greeted with cheers from the restricted Nets crowd earlier than hitting his first shot from mid-range.
He shot an ideal 5-for-5 for the sphere, ending with 17 factors, seven rebounds, and 5 assists, having not performed since February 13 due to a strained left hamstring.
“I anticipated to return out right here and play the best way I performed,” Durant mentioned after Wednesday’s sport. “I wasn’t attempting to ease into the sport.”
Coach Steve Nash mentioned bringing Durant off the bench was so the Nets might extra simply management his minutes if the sport was shut down the stretch.
It wasn’t.
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“We bought dominated at each ends of the ground. Completely dominated,” Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy mentioned. “We could not get out to the 3-point line. Our protection was absurd. They completely dominated us.”
Durant bought an ovation from the primary house crowd he’d performed in entrance of with the Nets. Barclays Middle solely started permitting restricted crowds on February 23.
Durant performed as a reserve for under the second time in his profession – each in his final two house video games.
He wasn’t in a position to begin on February 5 in opposition to Toronto in what was his 867th sport whereas the NBA reviewed an inconclusive coronavirus check results of somebody Durant had interacted with that afternoon. He was later cleared to enter, then compelled to go away once more within the third quarter.
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In a video launched by the staff earlier than Wednesday’s sport, Durant talked about his work to rehabilitate from his damage and being able to play.
“The final month or so, it is simply been me figuring out day by day, taking part in right here and there with my teammates,” Durant mentioned. “It is good to get a couple of of these periods in earlier than I went and leap into an NBA sport. It has been too lengthy for me… I am simply excited to get again on the market.”
Getting into Wednesday, the Nets have solely had their star trio of Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving in the identical line-up for seven video games (5-2) this season, however are presently No. 1 within the Jap Convention at 36-16. Durant is averaging 29.zero factors 7.Three rebounds and 5.9 assists per sport for the Nets this season.
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Harden might be re-evaluated in roughly 10 days after an MRI revealed a strained proper hamstring, the staff introduced on Tuesday.
Harden initially sustained the damage on March 31 in opposition to the Houston Rockets however appeared to reaggravate the hamstring in his return in opposition to the New York Knicks on Monday.