KEVIN Durant made a triumphant return as the Brooklyn Nets walloped his former team Golden State Warriors, 125-99, at the start of the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) Season at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, United States on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines).
Durant shook off 18 months of rust in a matter of moments and finished with 22 points in 25 minutes of his first official game since rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for the Warriors against Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of their 2019 NBA Finals.
Kyrie Irving tallied team high 26 points, Caris LeVert scored 20 points along with nine rebounds and five assists while Joe Harris contributed 10 markers to give Nets head coach Steve Nash a winning debut.
The Nets set the tone early behind the tandem of Durant and Irving as they surged to a 40-25 advantage. The Warriors attempted to rally in the second frame, but hits by LeVert, Harris and Jeff Green allowed Brooklyn to build a 63-45 halftime edge.
It was all Brooklyn in the second half with Durant connecting consecutive points early in the third quarter and Irving putting up his own shots as the score blew to 116-78 on a triple by Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Clippers repeated in opening day dominance on defending champions Los Angeles Lakers with a 116-109 beating at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Paul George top-scored with 33 points including five triples; Kawhi Leonard chipped in 26 markers while Serge Ibaka contributed 15 markers and six boards in his debut for the Clippers.
The Clippers went to work early behind George and Leonard as they established a 39-19 edge after 12 minutes. The Lakers mounted a huge run in the second period as they closed the gap, 54-56, at the half.
The Clippers managed to create separation from the Lakers early in the third period with conversions from George and Leonard. The Lakers came to within 76-77, but the LAC widened it to 89-78 on shots by George.
The Lakers made their last push at 85-91 early in the fourth period before the Clippers went for the kill with three-pointers from George and Patrick Beverley for a 112-96 edge on free throws by Ibaka.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 125 – Irving 26, Durant 22, LeVert 20, Harris 10, Dinwiddie 9, Allen 8, Green 7, Shamet 6, Luwawu-Cabarrot 5, Jordan 4, Kurucs 3, Brown 2, Perry 2, Prince 1, Johnson 0.
GOLDEN STATE 99 – Curry 20, Wiseman 19, Wiggins 13, Chriss 9, Mulder 8, Oubre Jr. 6, Paschall 6, Looney 4, Toscano-Anderson 4, Wanamaker 3, Lee 3, Bazemore 2, Poole 2.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 40-25; Q2, 63-45; Q3, 99-71; Q4, 125-99./PN
