The Nets have been on their option to setting the cruise management Saturday night time when a feel-good recreation turned worrisome.
Kevin Durant, who's within the midst of an MVP-caliber season, left the sport towards the Pelicans at Barclays Middle halfway via the second quarter with a sprained left knee and didn't return. He was later dominated out because the Nets went on to beat New Orleans 120-105, however the blowout win was spoiled by Durant’s early exit and the priority that adopted.
Coach Steve Nash didn't have an replace on Durant after the sport, apart from to disclose he'll bear an MRI examination on Sunday morning.
“In fact it might be powerful to lose him,” Nash mentioned. “Nobody desires to see that. We’ll clearly hope for one of the best end result, however whatever the end result, we've got to proceed to work, construct and develop and get higher and compete.”
With 5:38 left within the first half, Bruce Brown fell awkwardly into Durant’s left knee, showing to hyperextend it, on a defensive play. Durant hobbled round on the court docket earlier than taking himself out of the sport and heading straight to the Nets locker room.
The Nets (27-15) have been up by 25 factors over the Pelicans (16-27) on the time, and Durant had scored 12 factors within the first quarter alone. He had simply reentered the sport when he obtained harm, placing a damper on the Nets’ sturdy begin.
“It’s troublesome to see one in all our leaders take an damage like that,” James Harden mentioned. “So hopefully, it’s not too dangerous. Hopefully, he’s in a position to be on the court docket on Monday.”
Durant, who rested for Thursday’s recreation attributable to his heavy workload this season, entered Saturday main the NBA averaging 29.7 factors, to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 37.2 minutes per recreation. He was taking part in like one of the best model of himself, displaying no ailing results of the ruptured Achilles that price him your entire 2019-2020 season.
The Nets have performed simply two video games this season with their full Massive 3 intact — most of that as a result of the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving has been sidelined by New York Metropolis COVID-19 mandates and the group solely just lately allowed him to be a part-time participant, in highway video games solely. However after Saturday, the Nets will spend their subsequent 4 video games, and 9 of their subsequent 11, on the highway, which means Irving might play alongside Durant and Harden. That appeared to be their greatest probability to ascertain some much-needed continuity in a season bereft of it.
As a substitute, the Nets are left holding their breaths for the results of Durant’s MRI.
In Durant’s absence, Harden led the way in which Saturday night time with 27 factors, 15 assists and eight rebounds. The rookie trio of Cam Thomas (20 factors), Day’Ron Sharpe (12 factors, 10 rebounds) and Kessler Edwards (16) additionally had one other sturdy recreation, whereas Patty Mills chipped in 21 factors.
Earlier than Durant’s exit, the Nets had gotten off to the beginning that Nash had hoped for earlier than the sport as they regarded to ascertain a greater presence at residence. They entered Saturday having misplaced six of their final 9 video games, a stretch that included a 1-5 file in Brooklyn.
Durant led the way in which within the first quarter, scoring his 12 factors within the first 12 minutes alone because the Nets charged out to a 32-22 lead. It marked solely the fourth time this season that the Nets held a double-digit lead after one quarter.
They provided no let-up early within the second quarter, opening with an 11-0 run to take command of the sport — behind a lineup of Harden, DeAndre’ Bembry, Thomas, Edwards and Sharpe.
The Nets had simply taken a 52-27 lead when Durant got here again into the sport, although he quickly was executed for the night time.
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