Tag: Brooklyn Nets

Paolo Banchero reacts to playing Kevin Durant for the first time

Paolo Banchero faced Kevin Durant and the Nets for the first time on Monday in Brooklyn.

When Paolo Banchero was growing up in Washington, the eventual No. 1 pick by the Orlando Magic often watched Kevin Durant play with the Seattle SuperSonics. He even watched him up close in a pro-am game in the Pacific Northwest.

On Monday, Banchero faced him for the first time in the NBA.

Banchero and the Magic matched up against Durant and the Brooklyn Nets and received a first-hand view of yet another signature performance by the former MVP. Durant dropped a season-high 45 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in the 109-102 win.

Durant scored 19 points in the third quarter and failed to connect on only one of 13 shot attempts in the second half. He only missed five shots for the entire game. In other words, Durant had his way with Banchero and every other player the Magic sent at him.

“That was definitely a great performance,” Banchero said. “He didn’t miss many shots. That was a tough cover, man. I don’t got much to say about that. That was just amazing. That’s what he does. That’s Kevin Durant.”

Banchero tied a team-high with 24 points to lead the Magic in 38 minutes of work. It was his 10th game with at least 20 points, the most by a rookie this season. He also added five assists, four rebounds and two steals on 9-of-17 shooting from the field.

Banchero studied Durant often growing up and tried to take bits of his game and incorporate them into his own. He even tried to recruit him to Orlando when Durant requested a trade from the Nets over the offseason, something that was seen as light-hearted in nature.

The two had the opportunity to speak after the game on Monday at the Barclays Center. Durant signed a jersey for him and gave the 20-year-old some advice.

Banchero shared some of the message from Durant.

Just to keep going, stay healthy. He was showing his respects. I did the same. That is was one of the guys I always watched growing up. He played for the Sonics, came to Seattle for the pro-am. I remember watching him when I was really young, like 12 years old watching him play at (the pro-am at) the Seattle Pacific (University) gym. It is crazy to be on an NBA floor against him. It is a full-circle moment.

Although Banchero and the Magic left with a loss, the contest is likely one that Banchero will remember for quite some time after facing a legend like Durant. To walk away with a signed jersey was also likely pretty memorable, as well.

The two teams will face each other next on March 26 in Orlando.

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Kevin Durant literally laughed in the face of his defender before scoring a nasty and-1 basket

This was ice cold.

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant is nothing short of incredible.

Durant had 36 points (15-20 FG) through the first three quarters against the Orlando Magic on Monday, and he looked borderline unstoppable. It was an impressive performance for KD, who looked even more locked in than usual.

Kevon Harris, an undrafted free agent from Stephen F. Austin who signed a two-way deal with the Magic during the offseason, tried his best to slow the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

Unfortunately for Harris, however, it was all for naught as Durant pulled out one of the nastiest moves of the season thus far. He effortlessly scored and as he drew contact, he quite literally laughed in Harris’ face.

Harris tried to guard Durant as intensely as he could, but that seemed to only add fuel to the fire for the four-time scoring champion.

If you’re Harris, this is one of those situations where all you can really do is tip your hat to one of the greatest pure scorers in the history of the sport.

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NBA Power Rankings: Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton powering surging Suns

Rookie Wire took a look at the NBA through games played on Sunday and ranked each team from worst to first.

The NBA is a quarter of the way through the 2022-23 season as teams and players settle in after a competitive slate of games over the first two months.

The first 20-22 games of the season provide a great opportunity for teams to solidify themselves on the court. The sample size is large enough to have a better understanding of how a given team will likely perform this season and what we can expect to see from them.

To make further sense of it all, Rookie Wire took a look at the NBA and ranked each team from worst to first. We come back each week and provide our latest assessment of the best teams and those that are rising.

Nets’ Kevin Durant credits defense after win over Blazers

Kevin Durant gives his reason for the Nets’ impressive win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

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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Nets coach Jacque Vaughn gives promising updates on Watanabe and Warren

The Nets are hopeful that two key role players will return this week.

Before the Brooklyn Nets’ win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, coach Jacque Vaughn gave promising updates on sharpshooting big Yuta Watanabe and T.J. Warren. Vaughn said both players are “trending toward” being available in the coming week.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Nets are targeting a December 2nd return for Warren against the Toronto Raptors.

Watanabe is putting up eight points per game while shooting a league-best 57 percent from behind the arc, and teammate Kyrie Irving feels that Watanabe is the best shooter in the league.

Warren was picked up this offseason and needed time to recover from a foot injury, and has only played four games in the last two seasons. As an efficient shooter from the bench, the Nets have been awaiting his return.

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Nets vs. Magic: Lineups, injury reports and broadcast info for Monday

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Nets’ matchup with the Magic on Monday.

The Brooklyn Nets host Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic on Monday night, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place

Both the Nets and Magic are playing the second legs of back-to-backs on the schedule. The Nets pulled away from the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter on Sunday to win, 111-97, led by a stellar performance from Seth Curry off the bench.

The Magic, meanwhile, suffered a 133-103 beatdown at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Magic are missing several key players due to injury, but the return of Markelle Fultz is expected soon.

 

NBA Twitter reacts to Seth Curry’s big night in Nets win over Blazers

Seth Curry had a huge game off the bench and the Nets beat the Trail Blazers at home on Sunday.

The Brooklyn Nets earned a win on Sunday evening at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, 111-97, thanks to Seth Curry lighting up the scoreboard. Curry drained seven 3-pointers and scored 29 points off the bench, helping the Nets pull away in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined for 48, with Nic Claxton contributing a solid 11 points. The win improved the Nets’ record to 5-4 at the Barclays Center, and was the first in a seven-game homestand for Brooklyn.

Here’s what NBA Twitter had to say about the Nets’ home victory:

Nets vs. Trail Blazers: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, best bet

Here’s what you need to bet on the Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers game:

The Brooklyn Nets host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday and if you’re looking for last-minute betting research, you’ve come to the right place!

We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds, and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at Tipico Sportsbook!

The Nets are coming off a disappointing 128-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers even though Kevin Durant scored 36 points in the game, including 20 points in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn allowed four Pacers to score at least 20 points, but look to fix that against Portland.

The game can be watched on the YES Network (Nets) or ROOT Sports (Trail Blazers).

Nets vs. Trail Blazers game preview: How to watch, injuries, probable starting lineups

Here’s what you need to know to prepare for the Nets and Trail Blazers game on Sunday.

The Brooklyn Nets host the Portland Trail Blazers for the second and last matchup of their regular-season series. The Nets won the first game on Nov. 17 109-107 on a tip-on by Royce O’Neale with 0.7 seconds left in the game to secure a triple-double.

The Nets are 4-4 at home and will have a tough task defending Jerami Grant after he score 44 points in their 132-129 overtime win over the Knicks on Friday. Brooklyn is coming off a disappointing 128-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday as they allowed four Pacers to score at least 20 points.

Here’s when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:

NBA Twitter reacts to Brooklyn Nets’ 128-117 loss to the Pacers

NBA Twitter had some spot-on reactions to the Nets losing to the Pacers in disappointing fashion.

The Brooklyn Nets visited the Indiana Pacers on Friday and lost 128-117 as they allowed four Pacers to score at least 20 points including Buddy Hield scoring 26. The Pacers now lead the regular-season series 2-1 and the fourth and final game of this series is on Dec.10.

The Nets’ big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons combined for 76 of the team’s 117 points, but Irving and Simmons were non-factors in the fourth quarter as Durant scored 20 of his 36 points in the period. In the end, the Nets struggled to defend without fouling as they allowed the Pacers to shoot 38 free-throws.

Here’s what NBA Twitter had to say about the Nets’ loss: