Not even the most alien version of Kevin Durant was enough for the Nets in Atlanta. Brooklyn fell to the Hawks by a tight 122-115 despite Kevin Durant’s 55 points. Is he scoring record of the forward, who also beat his maximum in triples converted in a single game with 8 in 10 tries. He added an impeccable 7 of 7 in the final stretch of the third quarter. How much wasted fireworks.
His previous career high in points was 54 … while he was still a player for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2014. Since that day, KD has won two NBA rings with the Golden State Warriors before joining a Nets team that already have one thing for sure: they will dispute the play in access to the playoffs. Now, their mission is to try to climb as much as possible between 10th place, which is the one they hold at the moment, and 7th, in the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Among them, three games with four remaining to close the regular phase and two more teams, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets. A lot of paddling to only play a match and at home in the play in. But if they make it to the final rounds, panic will engulf the upper reaches of the Eastern Conference: who isn’t afraid to go up against a player who can put on that superhuman performance every night.
KD was not alone. he accompanied him Irving, who signed up for the show, although something else shy: 31 points (7/14 triples). Enter both, 86 points (38 in the first half). 74.8% of the total for Brooklyn, who played without Goran Dragic (COVID symptoms), Seth Curry (ankle) and Bruce Brown (flu). A trickle of casualties that they tried to remedy between the two Brooklyn giants, who saw how none of their teammates reached ten points. His bench was left in total at 12 goals.
Bring Young, key
The one from Atlanta made 46. Fundamental contribution to close the 10th win in the last 13 games and keep two dreams alive. One, almost impossible: hunt for 6th place, the last one that gives direct access to the playoffs: there are four games difference with the Chicago Bulls and only four games to play. And, the second, somewhat more realistic, unseating the Cleveland Cavaliers from 7th, two away.
The duel reached the final stretch very tight after the pressure exerted by Durant and Irving on some Hawks who resisted the torrential as best they could. With 4 minutes remaining, the score was a vibrant 107-101, which was adjusted to 107-106 with 2:29 still to play. Trae Young put things in their place. The point guard unleashed 11 of his 36 points in the last 90 seconds of the duel to give victory to Atlanta. Ice in the blood… and more before the monster Durant.