Kevin Durant's return to Brooklyn with the Suns resulted in a 115-104 victory over the Nets. Jacque Vaughn, the Nets' coach, praised Durant's competitiveness and impact on him as a coach. The Suns took advantage of their size, with Nurkic and Durant leading the scoring. Durant also praised Cam Thomas and reflected on his time with the Nets.
Kevin Durant on the impact Jacque Vaughn had on him as a coach last season. Vaughn called KD a special player/human being who made him a better coach. #Nets https://t.co/wQ2gUYloaJ
Kevin Durant reflects on his time with the #Nets. The work put in every day, learning to love New York City and more. https://t.co/ALY3skIe8h
Kevin Durant on Cam Thomas. “He’s a student of the game.” Praised Thomas having a bright future ahead. https://t.co/9e9kVPs4JZ
Kevin Durant assesses his time in Brooklyn following win over #Nets in first game back since trade Read more: https://t.co/3Hc2A4rPXo https://t.co/QwamUZIUNw
Suns are up to 61% from the field and 50% from 3. They are 1:20 from wrapping up an easy win in Durant's return to Brooklyn.
“Mini..” - Kevin Durant after scoring over Cam Thomas. 🥶 https://t.co/7EciVLAOvJ
Big brother gets little brother Kevin Durant just drove on Cam Thomas and big-manned him for an And-1
Suns are shooting 62% and have opened their largest lead at 94-81. Durant has joined Nurkic with 23 points after making the last two baskets.
Suns are shooting 54.8%. Lot easier when you got a size advantage and Durant/Nurkic can get what they want in the paint. Nets don't have the size tonight and it shows. Also doesn't help Bridges missed 2 FTs and a layup in the final 12 sec of 1st half
Suns 64, Nets 61, halftime. If Suns are patient enough to just throw it to Nurkic all night against undersized Nets, they could win this one easily. Hard to do that when you have Durant and Booker in your lineup.
Well we said the Nets were gonna be small minus Simmons/Sharpe/Finney-Smith. It's showing. Nurkic is starting to go to work inside and the Nets are being outrebounded 21-11
Nets and Suns tied at 30 after 1. Johnson/Claxton: 8 pts Booker: 9 pts Durant: 8 pts (5-5 FTs) Nets forced four turnovers and held the Suns to 40.9% shooting Cam Thomas now has THREE assists instead of 4. 4 pts, 3 assists
Nets-Suns tied at 30 entering the second quarter. Phoenix is shooting just 40.9% but is 7/9 at the free throw line. Brooklyn has just one free throw attempt.
Jacque Vaughn said Kevin Durant "made me a better coach". He added he had a special competitiveness on the floor ("going into a game, he wanted to win that game") and is a special human being. #Nets