INDIANAPOLIS — Kevin Durant will head into the Nets’ recreation in opposition to the Pacers on Friday off an uncharacteristically quiet recreation, wherein he scored simply 12 factors Wednesday in Toronto.
Nonetheless, Durant couldn’t have been happier after the Nets eased their solution to a 112-98 win to spice up their confidence.
“He feels completely nice about it after the sport, which is nice to see him within the locker room excited that a number of persons are in double digits,” coach Jacque Vaughn stated. “He at all times says that’s workforce basketball proper there, and that was a major instance.”
It was Durant’s lowest scoring output since a 12:22 cameo final season, on Jan. 15 in opposition to New Orleans, wherein he damage his knee and missed the following 21 video games. It was the primary time since late in 2021 that he scored solely 12 in a full recreation.
However Durant nonetheless notched a game-high plus-30 — his third-best of the younger season — because the Nets shot 54.9 %, handed out 32 assists and put all 5 starters in double figures. If they will duplicate these outcomes in opposition to the Pacers within the finale to this street journey, he’ll take it.
“We all know what Kev’s able to,” Kyrie Irving stated. “I wouldn’t depend on [low scoring] being constant. He’s going to do his factor on the market on the scoring finish.”
Durant additionally handed Kevin Garnett for 18th place within the all-time scoring listing with 26,074 factors. Subsequent up is John Havlicek with 26,395.
The Nets have 4 straight video games with not less than 30 assists for the primary time since March 1987. They’ll attempt to make it 5 in opposition to the Pacers.
Yuta Watanabe (hamstring pressure) and T.J. Warren (foot) will each be out Friday.
Warren — who hasn’t performed since having foot surgical procedure two seasons in the past — has progressed previous dealing with coaches to enjoying three-on-three in opposition to different gamers. His final recreation was Dec. 29, 2021, for the Pacers.
Watanabe shall be assessed when the Nets return house. His absence has compelled Vaughn to play Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris extra minutes than he would favor. It additionally has created extra alternative for Markieff Morris, whose enjoying time had been sporadic. Morris logged 18 minutes Wednesday — his second-most of the season — and had 9 factors on 3 of 4 capturing from deep.
“The ball discovered me. I had my ft set,” stated Morris. “We did an amazing job and had 30-plus assists. If you’re enjoying like that, it’s simple to win.”
Durant has accepted the Nets’ position as NBA villains.
“That’s at each enviornment. Everyone needs to see our workforce fail,” he stated. “No one likes Ben [Simmons]. No one likes Ky. No one likes myself. So it is likely to be like that at each street enviornment. It’s simply one thing we obtained to take care of.
“A variety of issues that in all probability issue into it. However when NBA followers don’t prefer it … they actually obtained love for you. It’s simply misplaced love, I suppose. However we get it. On the finish of the day, individuals get pleasure from watching us play.”
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