The Brooklyn Nets beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday 111-97 behind Durant’s 31 points and Seth Curry’s season-high 29 points off the bench. Curry had the most points that he’s had as a Net and the most points by a Nets player off the bench.
The Nets have won four of the past six games and that includes wins over the Trail Blazers, the Toronto Raptors, and Memphis Grizzlies. In those wins, Brooklyn gave up an average of 104 points per game when the league average is 113.
The Nets defense has been an issue this season, but it showed up in the fourth quarter of this game. For the first three quarters, Portland shot 29/60 from the field (48%). But, in the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers shot 6/19 (32%).
Here’s what Kevin Durant thought about the key to the win:
“We got stops. They (Portland) were shooting 50% for awhile in the first half. Our defense came to play in the second half, 40 points in the second half. I mean, it’s the second quarter really. They had 24, 23, and 17 in three out of the four quarters so defense won this game for us. It’s a make or miss league. It’s about baskets.”
The Nets next game is Monday night against the Orlando Magic.
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