He scored 15 points (5/12 on shots), took 3 rebounds and gave 3 assists in 24 minutes against the Washington Wizards. “It feels so good to come back,” said the number 7 of the New York franchise. “It’s a big step, which I will try to take advantage of,” added the 32-year-old winger a few days before the NBA resumes, scheduled for December 22.
Durant, who won the title with Golden State in 2017 and 2018, hasn’t played competitively since June 2019, in the Championship final the Warriors lost to Toronto.
Recruited in the wake of the Nets, with whom he signed up for four years, Durant did not play the 2019-2020 season. On Sunday, he played the first half of the 119-114 won game against Washington, who played without star duo Russell Westbrrok and Bradley Beal.
The Nets are expecting a lot this season from the duo formed by Durant and Kyrie Irving, also on the sidelines in 2019-2020 and author of 18 points on Sunday. To satisfy their ambitions, they recruited as coach the former double MVP the Canadian point guard Steve Nash who will be assisted as an offensive coach by Mike D’Antoni who still coached Houston last season.
In Sunday’s other games, the Lakers taught the Clippers a lesson 131-106. Despite the absences of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, spared, the reigning champions saw the confirmation of the young rear-shooter Talen Horton-Tucker irresisstible with 33 points, 10 rebs and 4 ast on the clock. Atlanta took revenge on Orlando 116-107, thanks in part to 18 and 17 points off the bench of newcomers Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic and Italian Danilo Gallinari. Sacramento also avenged its first defeat by winning 106-121 in Portland which mainly played its bench. Chicago was also vengeful against Houston. The Bulls emerged in the final quarter 104-91. The back duo Zach LaVine (23 pts, 9 reb) and Coby White (20 pts, 5 ast) made the difference. Conversely, the tandem of Knicks RJ Barrett (25 pts) and Julius Randle (18 pts, 6 rebs, 5 ast) was not enough against Detroit winner 99-91 thanks to his French Sekou Doumbouya (23 pts, 5 rebs in 18 minutes).
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