Throw in the debut of Euroleague MVP and exciting do-everything forward Nemanja Bjelica and the return of Kevin Durant, and this is an intriguing matchup for a variety of reasons.
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Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots against the Minnesota Timberwolves during a preseason game on October 7, 2015 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “He’s had a few incredible flashes”.
“He’s been really good”, according to new Thunder head coach Billy Donovan.
“Since the first day of camp I’ve been trying to grind out with my teammates and tried not to think about me being injured”, Durant said.
The Thunder are taking a predictable gently-as-she-goes approach with the 2.13m Kiwi centre as back soreness has severely curtailed his involvement in practices so far.
Durant didn’t seem to have any noticeable limps or any changes in his game that made him one of the most lethal players in the National Basketball Association for so long. He missed the final 28 games of the season, and guard Russell Westbrook could see the pain that it was causing his teammate to sit on the sideline. Just before his night came to an end in the closing moments of the third quarter, Durant got Timberwolves rookie Nemanja Bjelica up in the air on a pump fake, initiated contact and drew a foul, smiling as he pulled himself up off the court.
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“It seems like years ago,” said Durant in an interview Wednesday after the Thunder’s morning shootaround. So, for a team as desperate to improve as the Knicks after winning just 17 games last season, they’ll be more than eager to pursue Durant with that kind of money next summer. “I’m here now. Try not to think about the past”. “Especially as a competitor, you always want to go against him”. Last season the lineup of Westbrook, Roberson, Durant, Ibaka and Adams was +13.4 points per 100 possessions over their opponents.
