NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant spent part of his morning brushing off the notion that he was going to be a “savior” for his struggling team, then he almost did just that in a 113-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
After missing a month and a half because of a sprained MCL in his left knee, Durant looked like he hadn’t missed a beat while scoring 31 points, dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds in 35 minutes. It was the All-Star’s first game since he sprained the MCL in his left knee on Jan. 15.
“I felt great,” Durant said after the game. “I felt great. I’m only going to get better, more comfortable out there. Take more of a load out there too — when I get more games under my belt, so I felt solid.”
After missing his first two shots of the game, Durant found a rhythm quickly, transforming his team’s offense in the process — but it wasn’t enough for a struggling Nets team that blew a 16-point lead, dropped its third straight game and is now 32-32 on the year. When asked how long it usually takes a team to find its rhythm together, Durant said that in his experience in the league, the answer was always different.
“It could take one game, it could take 20 games,” Durant said. “It’s a matter of just getting out there and seeing what works for us, but it’s not like a certain formula or criteria that goes into [the process]. That’s how you know when you build chemistry, it’s just kind of an organic thing that happens naturally.”
The Nets haven’t had time for much to happen organically this season with so many players in and out of the lineup. Star guard Kyrie Irving, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, still can’t play in home games because of New York City’s vaccination mandate. Ben Simmons, the former All-Star guard who was acquired before the trade deadline as part of a package that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers, is dealing with back soreness and it is unclear when he’ll be able to play again.
Nets GM Sean Marks announced prior to Thursday’s game that Joe Harris would have season-ending ankle surgery. For a team that came into the season with such high hopes, the reality of the grind of expectations and injuries has caught up to a Nets team that can’t just rely on Durant to cure what ails them.
“I don’t look at myself as that, as a savior,” Durant said before the game. “But I know what I can do and how much I can help this team and what we’re missing as a group, but I’m not trying to go out there and win a game by myself tonight or make it all about me. I just try to go out there and help and be a good teammate and do what I do. I know what I bring to the table and try to do it to the best of my abilities.”
Durant’s words proved to be prescient for a group that hasn’t been able to find its footing for over two months. The Nets were 5-18 in his absence — and even with his offensive brilliance on full display, they let an undermanned Heat team, playing without Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker, overpower them in the second half with a combination of smart plays and hustle. Miami big man Bam Adebayo finished with 30 points 11 rebounds and six assists as a large group of Heat fans made its presence felt throughout the night at Barclays Center.
“Overall, this is a game we should win,” Acting Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “And we told our guys that after the game. We should feel disappointed. We should have won this game.”
While Durant’s game showed some understandable rust after being out for a month and a half, his presence gave the Nets the kind of emotional lift at the start that they’ve been seeking since his injury. Durant finished 10-for-21 from the field with three turnovers, including a 3-pointer that rimmed out down the stretch that would have given the Nets the lead. Durant’s teammates and coaches all know how dominant he can be and they expected exactly the type of performance that he gave them in his return. The Nets are now 24-13 when Durant plays this season.
“We know what the standings are,” Durant said before the game. “We know everybody’s telling us every day how far we’re dropping and where we may end up, constantly telling us the situation we’re in. But we understand that and know that each day is important so we’re focused on tonight and just keep plugging away.”
The Nets remain in eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, two games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets in the loss column. The Nets next game is Sunday afternoon on the road against the Boston Celtics.
