Here are the scores, updates, and results of the NBA 2020-2021 Preseason match between the Brooklyn Nets (BKN) and the Golden State Warriors (GSW) on December 23, 2020, at the Barclays Center.
The much-awaited debut of the Irving/Durant tandem happened today, and it is a sight to behold.
Former-Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving and former-Golden State Warriors small/power forward Kevin Durant, now suiting up for the Nets, combined 48 points on 17-of-32 shooting (53.1%) in Brooklyn’s 125-99 thumping of the Golden States in the season opener on Wednesday (PH time).
Seen as a contender in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn built a double-digit lead before the game was five minutes old, and things just escalated from there.
In the second quarter, the Nets were up by 21 and up by 35 at the end of the third. The team crossed the 100-point threshold in the opening minutes of the fourth.
Irving scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and chipped in four rebounds and four assists. Durant had 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
For their part, Caris LeVert took charge on the way to a 20-point night with nine rebounds and five assists. Joe Harris had 10 points and seven rebounds, while DeAndre Jordan grabbed 11 boards.
Irving, Durant, and LeVert became the first Nets trio to each score 20 or more points in a season opener since 2007 (Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Antoine Wright).
Brooklyn finished up shooting 45.7% overall and 42.9% from 3-point range. They got to the line for 32 free throws and shot 81.3%.
Meanwhile, the Nets limited Golden State to just 37.4% shooting, including 30.3% from the 3-point range.
Durant, who played 25 minutes in the court today, missed all of last season while recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles suffered while playing for the Warriors in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
“I tried not to make too big a deal out of this whole thing and realize I’ve been playing this game since I was 8 years old, so just got to revert back to what I know,” Durant said.
Similarly, Irving, who also played fruitful 25 minutes in the court, had an operation on his ailing right shoulder and missed the rest of the regular season. He was limited to only 20 games last season due to his knee injury.
“I think our goals are a lot higher this year, and we just want to be able to come in and dominate and do that consistently,” Irving said.
Stephen Curry had 20 points and 10 assists for the Warriors, a depleted team that looks nothing like the powerhouse that won two titles in Durant’s three seasons there.
Happy for Durant but upset with what he saw from his team, trying to bounce back after winning a league-low 15 games last season, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said: “Both Kevin and Kyrie just kind of had their way in the first half. So the lack of physicality and competition were the most disappointing things.”
No. 2 pick James Wiseman started at center despite his limited preparation and had 19 points and six rebounds.
Draymond Green didn’t play because of a sore right foot, and Klay Thompson is set to miss a second straight season.
Andrew Wiggins was 4 for 16 for his 13 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. was 3 for 14.
Brooklyn vs Golden States
Quarters: 25-40; 45-63; 71-99; 99-125
The scores:
Nets (125) – Kyrie Irving 26, Kevin Durant 22, Caris LeVert 20, Joe Harris 10, Spencer Dinwiddie 9, Jarrett Allen 8, Jeff Green 7, Landry Shamet 6, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 5, DeAndre Jordan 4, Rodions Kurucs 3, Bruce Brown Jr. 2, Reggie Perry 2, Taurean Prince 1, Tyler Johnson 0.
Warriors (99) – Stephen Curry 20, James Wiseman 19, Andrew Wiggins 13, Marquese Chriss 9, Michal Mulder 8, Kelly Oubre Jr. 6, Eric Paschall 6, Juan Toscano-Anderson 4, Kevon Looney 4, Damion Lee 3, Brad Wanamaker 3, Jordan Poole 2, Kent Bazemore 2,