Durant leads Brooklyn past Warriors in Golden State reunion

Kevin Durant offered hugs and handshakes all around, n left a winner in his reunion with Warriors.

Durant did a bit of everything in his first trip back to Bay Arena to play team he helped capture two championships over three years, scoring 20 points in Brooklyn Nets' 134-117 victory against Golden State on Saturday night.

“My time here at Golden State was so much fun,” Durant said. “It was such a big learning experience, especially learning game of basketball, a different philosophy. I'm going to take that with me for rest of my life.”

NBA Finals MVP during both title runs, Durant missed his initial three shots before making a 3-pointer at 5:49 mark of first quarter and finished 8 for 19 from floor and 1 of 6 on 3s.

Pal Stephen Curry didn't have his best stroke eir, going 10 of 17 for 27 points and 2 for 9 from deep as cold-shooting Golden State lost its third straight to Nets and missed a chance at its first three-game winning streak of season.

Golden State paid video tribute with “Welcome back KD!” during a first-quarter timeout and plans to so again during his next visit to Chase Center when fans have returned.

“This is something that is such a -brainer. When Kevin came here and gave us three years of just incredible basketball least we could do is welcome him back with open arms,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “... A guy that gave everything to us for three years n left with a devastating injury. re should be a lot of love, he did so much for us.”

Nets had lost three of four but welcomed back Durant after he missed past three games under COVID-19 quarantine protocols.

Warriors saw ex-Houston nemesis James Harden in a Nets uniform for first time, and he dished out 16 assists to go with 19 points, including five 3s, and eight rebounds. Kyrie Irving scored 23 points as Brooklyn snapped a seven-game losing streak on Warriors' home floor in its first visit to Chase Center.

“ tribute video was cool. I think about those moments daily. Every single moment that I've had in this league I think about it and try to analyze it and get better from it," Durant said.

Durant walked onto court for pregame warmups and greeted all his friends. He and Curry were concentrating on ir warmup routines until two-time MVP stopped to say hello as Durant stretched on his back at midcourt.

“I think it does mean something to him but he hasn’t showed it, we haven’t talked about it,” said Nets coach Steve Nash, who worked closely with Durant during his Bay Area stint as a Warriors player development consultant. “If re’s ever a comeback game that is less than what it may have been in rmal situation, it’s this one.”

Durant returned from missing last season following surgery for a torn right Achilles tendon he hurt in Game 5 of 2019 NBA Finals with Warriors.

It’s same injury Klay Thompson is sidelined with w — and Durant has been in regular touch with Thompson, who watched from sideline Saturday.

“Can't wait to see him back out re,” Durant said.

Warriors shot 4 for 20 on 3-pointers in first half, 1 of 7 by Curry, and trailed 66-51 at break.

Curry struggled by his standards coming off a 40-point performance two nights earlier against Orlando in which he made 10 3-pointers.

Warriors lost 125-99 at Brooklyn to open season Dec. 22, but “we're a totally different team,” Kent Bazemore said.

So were new-look Nets.

“James Harden's kind of a big deal,” Kerr said.

TIP-INS

Nets: Nets made ir first visit to second-year Chase Center having been scheduled to play here during arena’s first season March 12 last year but game was canceled near start of pandemic. ... Brooklyn won three in a row against Golden State for first time since March 9, 2011 through March 30, 2012. ... Nets earned ir first road win at Golden State since a 102-100 victory on March 30, 2012.

Warriors: Draymond Green “tweaked his knee and was in a lot of pain” in first half but was able to return, Kerr said. ... Injured rookie James Wiseman spoke in Mandarin Chinese on big screen to help celebrate Lunar New Year. ... Big man Kevon Looney says he’s “making good progress. Hopefully I’ll be back on court soon,” a week out from his left ankle sprain — surprisingly an injury he’s never had previously.

QUOTEABLE

“He’s Kevin Durant and his name speaks for itself. He walks into gym and people kw who he is. dude is 7-foot and can freakin’ light it up, so he’s a monster.” -- Bazemore.

UP NEXT

Nets: At Sacramento on Monday night to continue a five-game West Coast road trip.

Warriors: Host Cavaliers on Monday night having won last six against Cleveland and five straight in series at home.

Im credits: AP