Kevin Durant leads Nets to much-needed win over Wizards
Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) dunks past Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Washington. Credit: AP/Nick Wass
WASHINGTON — Kevin Durant believes he can control only what he can control.
So with his team imploding around him, Durant scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds Friday night to lead the Nets to a much-needed 128-86 win over the Washington Wizards.
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WASHINGTON — Kevin Durant believes he can control only what he can control.
So with his team imploding around him, Durant scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds Friday night to lead the Nets to a much-needed 128-86 win over the Washington Wizards.
The Nets (3-6) were playing without Kyrie Irving, their second-leading scorer. They will continue to be without Irving for at least four more games as the team suspended him for a minimum of five games Thursday night after his failure to apologize for linking to an antisemitic movie on his Instagram and Twitter accounts.
The win was the Nets’ first since they parted ways with coach Steve Nash on Tuesday.
Durant was asked before the game how the Nets can move forward through all the drama that is surrounding them.
“Just get ready for the game tonight,” he said. “Keep playing, keep being you. I think guys know that our job is to come to work and be the best version of us that we can be. That’s the only thing we can control.”
The Nets led 38-28 after one quarter and 69-57 at halftime. Durant finished 10-for-21 from the field and was 6-for-6 on free throws in 33 minutes.
Irving wasn’t the only player missing; the Nets were without Ben Simmons and Seth Curry. Simmons, who is back in Brooklyn with a sore left knee, also will miss Saturday’s game in Charlotte. Curry, who is easing back from ankle surgery, likely will play Saturday, interim coach Jacque Vaughn said.
The Nets also got some nice minutes from Nic Claxton, who finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Yuta Watanabe added 14 points and Royce O’Neale had 13.
Bradley Beal scored 20 points to lead the Wizards (4-5). Kyle Kuzma added 19.