Kevin Durant and the kids lead Nets to victory over 76ers
Nets forward Kevin Durant controls the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Barclays Center on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
IIt’s an improbable, implausible scenario, but with the Nets severely shorthanded because of health and safety protocols the past two games, the "Kevin Durant and the Kids" show has been wildly entertaining. Durant once again carried the Nets with 13 points in the final eight minutes of a 114-105 victory over the 76ers Thursday night at Barclays Center.
The victory was the fourth straight by the Nets, but the play of four rookies plus young veteran Nic Claxton has really made the past two wins special. Describing Durant’s leadership during this manpower crisis, Claxton said, "I think he’s the GOAT. He’s making plays for us, trusting us and he’s just getting the job done and playing a lot of minutes, too.
"He’s definitely more vocal right now with us being down some guys. And we definitely, definitely, definitely feed off of that. That’s big for us. He’s a great leader."
The Nets saw a 20-point second period lead shrink to two late in the third quarter, and after they built it back to 11 early in the fourth, they committed five turnovers to fuel a 12-2 run that cut the 76ers’ deficit to 92-91 on a layup by Matthias Thybulle with 8:19 left to play.
Durant was on the bench during that 76ers run. After he returned, Durant hit a three to give the Nets breathing room, then responded to tying baskets by Joel Embiid with a go-ahead jumper and a four-point play for a 107-103 lead with 1:46 to play, and then Blake Griffin, who has been struggling with his shot, followed with a much-needed three-pointer for a seven-point cushion.
"He missed some open threes early in the game, but the one that put us up seven was a huge, huge shot, and he took it with confidence," Durant said. "That’s what we’re going to need from Blake. He got a couple and ones under the basket, got his three-pointer late in the game, and that’s pretty much the formula for him.
In his previous two games, Durant became the first player in Nets history to follow a 50-point game with a triple-double. He pretty much picked up where he left off with 34 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to pace the Nets (21-8). They also got 17 points and nine rebounds from Griffin, 17 points from Claxton and shot 47.8% from three-point range (11 of 23).
The 76ers (15-15) were led by Embiid with 32 points and nine rebounds and got 29 points from Seth Curry, but the Nets held them to 29.4% from three-point range (10 of 34).
Once again, all four Nets rookies were in line for major playing time, including starting guard David Duke Jr. with Cam Thomas, Kessler Edwards and Day’Ron Sharpe off the bench. Edwards and Duke both were coming off double-double efforts in Tuesday’s win over the Raptors.
After a slow start, the Nets built a 39-25 lead at the end of the opening quarter. They led by 20 points in the second period before settling for a 66-48 halftime margin. It was the second straight 66-point first half by the shorthanded Nets.
But just as they did against the Raptors, the Nets had a third-quarter letdown against the 76ers, who opened the second half with a 19-7 run and cut the Nets’ lead to 85-79 at the end of the third quarter. The Nets struggled in the fourth until Durant returned and led their finishing kick.
"Any time younger guys in the league play meaningful minutes it’s always good," Durant said. "It’s good to play against championship-caliber defense, and it’s only going to help us going forward. I’m excited they got this opportunity and they’re not too wide-eyed and nervous. It’s on us as veterans to kind of help them along the way as well. So it’s been fun.
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Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
