Durant burns Nets in Barclays return

Scores 33 points as Phoenix scorches Brooklyn, 136-120

February 1, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Kevin Durant slams home two of his game-high 33 points during his victorious return to the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Wednesday. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

Share this:

They cheered, they booed and then they watched helplessly as the player that was supposed to help the Nets win their first-ever championship put on a show with his new team.

Kevin Durant got a mixed reaction from the 17,732 fans gathered at Downtown’s Barclays Center Wednesday night during his much-anticipated return to Brooklyn.

But his talent and acumen for rising to the occasion remained unquestionable.

Durant scored a game-high 33 points, 11 of which came during a decisive third quarter, handed out eight assists, grabbed five rebounds and blocked a pair of shots to spearhead the Phoenix Suns to a 136-120 victory over the Nets.

“It’s cool. It’s good to be back here in front of these fans,” said Durant. “I love these rims. I love playing in front of this crowd. Brooklyn is one of my favorite boroughs and we got the win.”

Dealt to the Suns (28-20) nearly a year ago, Durant admitted prior to this homecoming that he wasn’t sure what to expect from the Brooklyn faithful, many of whom were banking on him and Kyrie Irving to deliver our borough’s first major pro sports title since the 1955 Dodgers.

After arriving here with great fanfare in the summer of 2019, the superstar tandem was gone three-plus seasons later after producing one playoff series win.

Durant spent the summer before his departure pleading for a change in the front office and head coaching position while making trade demands.

Irving, who will be here for his Barclays return next Tuesday, never received a long-term contract extension and was traded to Dallas days before Durant was moved to Phoenix.

Nets fans greeted their would-be messiah with a warm reception following a video tribute during player introductions.

“Of course. I had some great moments here,” said Durant, who posted earlier in the week that he wasn’t sure he wanted a video tribute. “A lot of stuff that flew under the radar.”

But the crowd also jeered when Durant received the ball in the early going before everyone settled in for one of the two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player’s virtuoso efforts.

Kevin Durant heard cheers during pregame introductions and boos during the game, but got the best of Brooklyn by leading the Suns to a win. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

The 6-foot-11 forward went 10-of-16 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers, and buried all but one of his dozen free-throw attempts, lifting the Suns to their ninth win in 11 games.

“He put the team first, went out and competed, played team-first basketball,” said Suns coach Frank Vogel of Durant. “Hell of a performance.”

Jusuf Nurkic amassed 28 points and 11 rebounds and Devin Booker put up 22 points for Phoenix, which avenged a 116-112 home loss to Brooklyn on Dec. 13 in the first reunion between Durant and the Nets.

“They beat us at our place last time and we wanted to come out here and avenge that loss,” Durant noted.

Cam Thomas scored 25 points and Mikal Bridges, one of the players sent here by Phoenix for Durant, added 21 for Brooklyn (19-28), which failed to complete its first three-game winning streak since Dec. 2-8, finishing 2-3 on its five-game homestand.

Cam Johnson, who also came to the Nets in the Durant deal, had 18 points, Spencer Dinwiddie finished with 16 and Nic Claxton added 12 as Brooklyn dropped out of 10th place in the Eastern Conference behind Atlanta (20-27) for the final spot in the NBA’s postseason play-in tournament.

“It’s tough,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn ceded. “With a team like that you know they’re going to shoot well, just those three guys at a high level, so we had to pick our battles tonight.”

The nationally televised game was tied at 30-30 after 12 minutes, and the Suns held a three-point lead at the half before blowing the Nets out of the building with a 42-26 third quarter.

Durant put up five straight points, including a three-point play, during a 10-0 run during the period that stretched Phoenix’s lead to 99-81.

“I love to shut the crowd up,” Durant revealed. “Even though I love these people here, I love to shut them up.”

Fresh off his return from a 38-game absence, Nets point guard Ben Simmons sat out Wednesday’s game vs. Phoenix with a knee contusion. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

NOTHING BUT NET: After flirting with a triple-double in his first appearance since Nov. 6 during Monday’s win over Utah, Nets point guard Ben Simmons sat out the Durant reunion with a knee contusion. Simmons had missed the previous 38 games with a nerve impingement in his back. He is listed as day-to-day as Brooklyn prepares to visit Philadelphia on Saturday. … The Nets were also without Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) Wednesday. … After taking on the 76ers, the Nets will return to Brooklyn to kick off another five-game homestand Monday night vs. Golden State ahead of Irving’s return on Tuesday with the Mavericks.