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KEVIN Durant can still score in bunches.
The four-time NBA scoring champion returned from a long injury absence to score 15 points in his debut for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night (Monday Manila time).
Durant tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg during the 2019 NBA Finals. He left the Golden State Warriors after that season and joined the Nets, but missed the entire 2019-20 season while recovering. delaying his chance to play with his close friend Kyrie Irving.
Durant played just under 24 minutes when Brooklyn beat the Washington Wizards 119-114 in their first preseason game.
“It felt great to be back in the routine and to be back on the court and feeling like a player again,” Durant said. “It felt great. Everyone is texting me, calling me and asking how I’m feeling. I can’t wait until that is over so I can get back on track and feel like one of the guys again. “
Durant looked confident when he put on No. 7 instead of the familiar No. 35 he had worn for Oklahoma City and Golden State. His first basket on Sunday was a two-handed dunk.
“It’s one thing to come back,” said Steve Nash, the Nets’ new coach. “It’s another thing to come back and look as explosive and mobile and skilled as he has after a long break. I am incredibly proud of him. “
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Durant and Irving played the first nine minutes, 27 seconds of the game together. Durant scored 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting during that span, while Irving scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting to help the Nets take a 30-18 lead.
Late in the first half, Irving threw a long pass to Durant, whose reverse layup gave the Nets a 58-35 lead. Brooklyn’s biggest lead was 26 points in the second quarter.
Irving finished with 18 points in just over 17 minutes in his own return, after being limited to 20 games last season due to a shoulder injury.
“That’s one of the advantages of this position, is that you can train two incredible players,” Nash said. “Ky was super smart and Kevin, after such a long break, was very good and was close to being amazing.”
The Nets shot 63.9% in the first half to take a 68-50 lead at the break.
Durant played about six minutes in the second half and Irving didn’t play at all. The Wizards took advantage and even briefly took the lead in the fourth quarter before Brooklyn regained control late.
Durant said he felt good after the game, but he wouldn’t say he’s gone back to his old self.
“I can’t say after a preseason game,” he said. “I felt good. I want to play at the highest level of basketball, at the highest intensity of basketball, and it is not in preseason. But it is a good first step.”
Russell Westbrook did not play in what would have been his debut with the Wizards after being traded in a deal that sent John Wall to Houston. Bradley Beal also rested for Washington.
Rui Hachimura scored 18 points and Raúl Neto added 17 for Washington. Deni Avdija, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, scored 15 points for the Wizards.
There are six more games on Monday.
LAKERS 131, CLIPPERS 106
In Los Angeles, the defending champion Lakers rolled while LeBron James and Anthony Davis rested.
Talen Horton-Tucker had 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Kyle Kuzma added 25 points for the Lakers. New Laker Montrezl Harell scored 19 points and 11 rebounds against his former team.
Lou Williams led the Clippers with 12 points and Kawhi Leonard added 11 points in just under 18 minutes.
The Lakers also beat the Clippers on Friday.
HAWKS 116, MAGIC 107
At Atlanta, Trae Young scored 21 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 18 as the Hawks posted their first preseason victory.
Danilo Gallinari scored 17 points and De’Andre Hunter added 15 for Atlanta, which made 17 triples. Young and Bogdanovic made four triples each.
Markelle Fultz scored 21 points and rookie Cole Anthony added 16 for the Magic. Aaron Gordon scored 15 points and Nikola Vucevic had 14 for Orlando.
The Magic defeated the Hawks 116-112 in Atlanta on Friday.
PISTONS 99, POINTS 91
In Detroit, Sekou Doumbouya scored 23 points to help the Pistons achieve their first preseason victory.
Doumbouya, the 19-year-old forward who averaged 6.4 points last season, made 8 of 11 shots.
Derrick Rose scored 11 points and Blake Griffin added 10 for the Pistons.
RJ Barrett scored 25 points and Julius Randle had 18 for the Knicks.
Alec Burks finished with 15 points for New York, which defeated the Pistons on Friday.
BULLS 104, ROCKETS 91
In Chicago, Zach LaVine scored 23 points and Coby White added 20 when Billy Donovan scored his first preseason coaching victory with the Bulls. Donovan led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the playoffs last season.
John Wall scored 21 points for the Rockets, who shot just 34.5%. DeMarcus Cousins scored 10 points in just over 17 minutes.
The Rockets beat the Bulls by 21 on Friday.
MORE OF SPIN
KINGS 121, BLAZERS TRAIL 106
In Portland, Richaun Holmes and Kyle Guy each scored 14 points to lead eight Sacramento players in double figures.
De’Aaron Fox added 13 points for Sacramento.
Harry Giles had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Portland. Gary Trent Jr. scored 17 points, Derrick Jones Jr. scored 15 and CJ McCollum added 13 for the Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard scored just three points and only threw three shots in limited action.
Portland won by 25 when the teams met on Friday.
