Here are the scores, updates, and results of the NBA 2020-2021 regular season match between the Brooklyn Nets (BKN) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) on January 11, 2021, at the Barclays Center.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Brooklyn Nets 129-116 as three Thunder players finished with 20+ points.
Among those scorers was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who led the team with 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Hamidou Diallo provided 25 points off the bench and Al Horford finished with 22 points and 6 rebounds.
“It’s been a great road trip,” said Hamidou Diallo.
Al Horford had 22, George Hill added 14, and Lugentz Dort and Isaiah Roby had 13 each.
In an interview, OKC head coach Mark Daigneault stressed: “We have a team that’s really well-intentioned. We want to run through the finish line.”
For his part, Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant, who netted 36 points and 11 rebounds, led the way for Brooklyn’s six double-digit scorers, which included Caris LeVert, who tallied 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists and Jarrett Allen who chipped in 15 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.
“COVID put us under these circumstances and a lot of guys around the league are under protocol, so it was something we knew coming into the season may happen. I’m glad I’m back playing, (though),” said Durant.
Meanwhile, in a post-game interview, Brooklyn Nets’ first-year coach Steve Nash wasn’t feeling good about his team’s play. Nash reiterated: “I didn’t sense the pride. I didn’t sense the competitive fire in the second half.”
“We (have) to toughen up and show a little more pride,” added Nash.
Despite the return of Durant, Brooklyn was not at full strength as Kyrie Irving missed his third straight game due to an undisclosed issue which is believed to be the guard’s distress over the insurrection at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Irving had started Brooklyn’s first seven games, averaging 27.1, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds.
“I don’t worry about (Irving) falling out of rhythm. He’s a brilliant basketball player,” said Nash.
Oklahoma City Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs next, on January 13, 2021 (Manila time), while the Brooklyn Nets will face the Denver Nuggets on the same date.
Brooklyn vs Oklahoma City
Quarters: 41-29; 22-28; 18-37; 35-35
The scores:
Nets (116) – Caris LeVert 21, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 12, Joe Harris 10, Taurean Prince 11, Jarrett Allen 15, Jeff Green 4, Landry Shamet 3, DeAndre Jordan 4, Kevin Durant 36, Bruce Brown Jr. 0, Rodions Kurucs 0.
Thunder (129) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31, George Hill 14, Luguentz Dort 13, Darius Bazley 5, Hamidou Diallo 25, Kenrich Williams 0, Theo Maledon 3, Al Horford 22, Aleksej Pokusevski 3, Isaiah Roby 13, Moses Brown 0.