Picture Credit: NBA
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets registered his career-high of 55 points in the game against the Atlanta Hawks. Kevin has been spot-on with his game right through the game scoring eight 3-pointers, one of which scored towards the end of the 3rd quarter can be seen below.
Although Kevin Durant was at his best, his side eventually lost the game to Atlanta Hawks by 122-115. Trae Young scored 36 points, including nine in the final minute, and the streaking Hawks overcame Durant's career-high.
Durant was evidently disappointed with the result of the game. "I'm not worried about that," he said of the record. "I'm just mad at the loss."
The Nets' second consecutive loss left them locked into the play-in tournament, eliminating their slim hopes of moving up to sixth in the conference.
Kyrie Irving had 31 points to complement Durant, but the Nets had no other scorer in double figures. Brooklyn had too little scoring support for its two leaders while missing two starters and another top backup.
Backup point guard Goran Dragic did not play after he was placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols with COVID-19 symptoms. Coach Steve Nash said Dragic "doesn't feel well."
Only minutes before the game, Brooklyn's backcourt depth took another hit when starter Seth Curry was ruled out with a sore left ankle. The Nets also were without starting forward Bruce Brown, who Nash said has the flu.
Durant's 19 third-quarter points included back-to-back 3s late in the period, giving him the Nets' last 16 points.
Thanks to Durant, the Nets were down only 94-87 entering the final period after trailing by 15 points at halftime. Brooklyn trimmed Atlanta's lead to 95-90 on a 3-pointer by Irving before Atlanta answered with a 12-3 run to push its lead to 14 points.
