“They got all that talent over there, and sometimes it happens where you’re not totally focused and a lot of things are going on around that distract you from playing basketball”, said Durant.
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Brooklyn managed an average of 82 points in going down quietly to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Utah Jazz in the first two games of the homestand and have another winning team in Miami set to visit on Tuesday before closing the month with a pair of road games.
Kevin Durant had a great game with 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Russell Westbrook was solid with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan credited the Nets. “So both teams dealt with the weather, but to say that that impacted us would be making an excuse”.
“Obviously being shorthanded without Steve, it’s hard for us”, Collison said.
The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who finished with a combined 59 points, but on 23-49 shooting, and 3-14 from 3-point range.
The Thunder (33-13) weren’t able to practice or hold a shootaround and walkthrough after arriving in the NY metro area around 4 a.m. Saturday – not long after a blizzard began that would dump nearly 30 inches on the area. Anthony played over 40 minutes in back-to-back games after returning from the ankle injury on January 18 but tailed off in the last two games as the Knicks averaged 86 points in back-to-back losses.BUZZER BEATERS1.
“It’s always fun. It’s the mecca of basketball, New York City, and just to play here in front of these fans who enjoy the game of basketball, it’s incredible”, Durant said before Sunday’s game.
“Utah was kind of the capper”.
Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) passes over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in NY. We’re not that. Of course people want us to be that.
Brook Lopez was stellar, as usual, scoring 31 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking three shots in the win for the 12-33 Nets.
Asked before the game about the Nets rough season, Durant was sympathetic, citing injuries to starters and the January 10 firing of head coach Lionel Hollins.
Without starting center Steven Adams, missing a second straight game with a sprained right elbow, OKC’s problems started early. He was hurt when Westbrook missed a reverse layup and fell into Roberson’s knee. He is eighth among active players….
Two more points for the Nets.
Durant spent about 36 hours in his hotel before leaving for Sunday night’s game. “I know for me personally it was just an ugly, ugly game and we wanted to come out and erase our memory of that”.
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For more on the Thunder, check them out at Welcome to Loud City.
