Saturday’s matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors marked the highly-anticipated return of Kevin Durant to the Bay Area.
Prior to joining the Nets in the 2019 offseason, Durant won a pair of championships and two NBA Finals Most Valuable Players awards in three seasons with the Warriors.
During his time in the Bay Area, Durant averaged 25.8 points on 52.4% from the field with 7.1 rebounds. 5.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. The Texas product earned three trips to the NBA All-Star game and three All-NBA team honors.
Kevin Durant arrives for his first game back in the Bay Area.@BrooklynNets take on the @warriors at 8:30pm/et on ABCpic.twitter.com/Sl0toxT51H
— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2021
In the first quarter, the Warriors welcomed Durant to Chase Center with a special tribute video. The 58-second video featured a flurry of highlights and top moments from Durant’s stint with the Warriors. When fans are able to return to the Chase Center seats, the Warriors plan to properly honor Durant again in front of the home crowd.
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Before the game started, Durant and Steph Curry reunited for a pregame conversation at center court.
Via @SamHustis on Twitter:
All love between Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant pregame pic.twitter.com/ArK5miXZPy
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) February 14, 2021
Once the opening whistle blew, Durant went to work. The former MVP helped push the Nets to a 134-117 victory with 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field. Durant added six assists, five rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.
To create space for an open jumper, Durant displayed a nasty stepback for an impressive bucket.
Via @gswchris on Twitter:
Kevin Durant is a bad man pic.twitter.com/UhJLYKMPIW
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) February 14, 2021
In a move that should look familiar to fans of the Golden State Warriors, Durant showed off a nearly unguardable turnaround jumper near the baseline.
Missed you @KDTrey5 #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/1lRpYUmbek
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 14, 2021
Watch more highlights from Durant’s performance against the Warriors via @NBA on Twitter:
Kevin Durant and the @BrooklynNets win in his first game back in the Bay Area!
20 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST pic.twitter.com/0dbO0BZzKv
— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2021
Durant and the Nets have officially swept the season series against the Warriors with a pair of dominant victories.
On the 2020-21 season, the former Warrior forward is averaging 29.5 points on 52.9% shooting from the field with 7.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest with Brooklyn.
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