Though the Brooklyn Nets were up against the Detroit Pistons when Kevin Durant was ejected Sunday night for a flagrant two foul with 3:23 left in the third quarter, given the inconsistent play of the team early in the season, there was a question of how the team would respond. James Harden answered those questions.
Harden, who finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, dominated the game upon the exit of Durant, allowing the Nets to cruise to a 117-91 win.
Harden talked about his recent improved play. “The confidence and just my rhythm and all that is coming back simultaneously together it just feels much, much better,” he said. “I knew I was going to have a slow start because I wasn’t paying a lot but I knew the work was going to catch up and ultimately I was going to get back to where I need to be.”
Nets second year head coach Steve Nash talked about how Harden took over the game after the ejection. “When we lost Kevin, it was important to continue to show the impetus and willingness to be attack-minded and do the right things,” Nash said. “James was great. He led us in that stretch, being aggressive, making the right decisions, protecting the ball. That was the pivotal stretch to make sure we could win.”Though the Brooklyn Nets were up 96-74 against the Detroit Pistons when superstar Kevin Durant was ejected from Sunday night for a flagrant two foul with 3:23 left in the third quarter, given the inconsistent play early in the season, there was a question of how the team would respond.”
Durant tried to explain what led to his ejection. “I tried to run through the screen,” he began. “That was just a result of me trying to blow the screen up. From looking at the tape, it looked like l extended a little bit. I was just trying to blow the screen up, fight through. It is what it is.”
Brooklyn improved it’s record to 4-3 and will host Trey Young and the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night.
Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.
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