NEW YORK — James Harden made history in his first game with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, becoming the first player to record a 30-point triple-double in their debut with a team.
Harden had 32 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in the team’s 122-115 win over the Orlando Magic.
Kevin Durant scored a team-high 42 points and had five assists and four rebounds in the Nets win. Harden and Durant’s combined 72 points is the most the duo has ever scored as teammates. Harden and Durant played together for three years in Oklahoma City.
Harden’s 14 assists were a franchise record for assists in a players’ first game with the team. He also had four steals, one block and nine turnovers in just under 40 minutes.
Harden, who was traded from Houston to Brooklyn as a part of a four-team deal earlier this week, started alongside Durant, Jeff Green, Joe Harris and DeAndre Jordan. It was his first on-court action with the team.
On Friday, Harden was ineligible to practice with the Nets because all of the players involved in the trade had not passed their physical exams.
“I think everyone’s excited,” Nash said before the game. “We welcome one of the best players in the game to our team. So, the mood is great. This is a moving target that we have to try to incorporate him as we go here and learn on the fly, adapt and try to gel.”
