The Nets stole the NBA’s imagination and they even stole Wednesday’s game on television against the Knicks.
Imagine when your entire super team – and not just Kevin Durant – shows up at the Garden next time.
Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks couldn’t even defend Brooklyn Lite. The Nets became the Brooklyn Nine after making a four-team blockbuster switch to add a third superstar to James Harden, and they still beat the Knicks, 116-109, in the empty Garden.
Of course, Durant was still on the court. In his first game against the Knicks since he rejected them as a free agent in July 2019, he got 26 points in 30 minutes – 12 of them in the third quarter. Durant hit 10 out of 18 shots – including 3 out of 5 in the 3-point range.
“We want to finish the second consecutive half, especially with a team that is on the other side of the bridge,” said Durant. “And we know what that rivalry is like and we know the intensity with which this team plays. So, we really wanted this game tonight, and everyone played like him. ”
The garden was not entirely empty. Knicks owner James Dolan, who no longer sits in his seat next to the team’s bench during this pandemic season, saw the mess of the second level 100 line on the central court. The latter had to sting Dolan after he saw Durant’s pull-up jumpers and saw his club lose the fourth straight to drop to 5-7.
Although the attack was the Achilles’ heel for the Knicks, this time it was the defense that left Thibodeau in hand.
“Disappointed that we could have played better defensively, yes, but more determined to get it right,” said Thibodeau. “I like the fight we did at the end, but it was too late. We entered a very large hole. We have to get back to work. Sometimes you go through periods when you don’t have the opportunity to practice a lot, so I think that practicing would be good for us. “
Harden will arrive soon, but the Nets were without Kyrie Irving (personal reasons) and the players they traded – Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince and Rodions Kurucs.
While the Nets transformed Brooklyn into a star haven, Knicks striker Julius Randle continued to play as one. He beat the Nets by 30 points and five assists, but did not have enough. The fall RJ Barrett, who did not score in the first half and missed the first six shots, arrived late and finished with 20 points.
Durant scored a final streak of 15-2 with a steal and a counterattack in the last minute of the second half, giving the Nets a 61-45 lead at halftime. He scored in the first possession of the game and was elegant in the white uniform of Garden in the Nets.
Thibodeau is not surprised that Durant has shown no fall since recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.
“He will overcome everything in front of him,” said Thibodeau. “He’s a gym rat. He’s an ace. He is a great student of the game. And he has an incredible skill set. And the underestimated part is your altruism, your willingness to pass. He’s a great player of all time, for sure. So I am not surprised.
Knicks rookie Immanuel Quickley, a Maryland native, seemed a little surprised by Durant.
“Probably the greatest basketball player I’ve ever played against,” said Quickley, who recovered from his fall to score 19 points in 22 minutes at a Knicks spot. “He shot me and it was like a video game. I was right there and he drained everything from the network. And I just went to court when we were on the attack and I thought, ‘Oh my God, that was crazy.’ He’s a great player and he’s from Maryland, so I’m glad he’s playing. ”
The undermanned Nets played a fair game, making only one turnover in the first half. Sniper Joe Harris scored 15 points, hitting three points out of 3. Nets point guard Bruce Brown, with 15 points and 14 rebounds, looked much more effective and faster than Barrett. In one move, he overtook the Knicks’ defense for a quick attack tray.
To make matters worse, the choice of Nets in the second round, striker Reggie Perry, was called up and scored 11 points out of 5 out of 7 shots.
Perry, from the state of Mississippi, was taken 57th in the November draft. The Knicks could have chosen the 33rd choice, but traded it in a complex deal for a second round of 2023 because they felt there was no room on their list.
Losing 18 with 3:23 remaining and Durant in the pine, the Knicks made a final effort to make the final score look competitive than it really was.