Brooklyn Nets appeared to be playing with a chip on their shoulders on Thursday’s 129-100 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Durant was the leading scorer of his team, with him, Irving and Seth Curry combining for 71 points.
Durant led the way in scoring for the Nets, with 25 points, while also having 14 rebounds and seven assists.
Kyrie Irving also had a great game against a hostile crowd, which was constantly chanting at Ben Simmons until the Nets took over and silenced the Sixers’ fans.
“I think all of us were,” Durant said (h/t to ESPN). “We look at Ben as our brother, so we knew that this was a hostile environment and we knew that he didn’t have the opportunity to play and we wanted to come out there and have [the fans] focus on the court, more so than always focusing on him.
So, they focused on the court tonight, and it’s hard for you to chant at Ben Simmons when you’re losing by that much.”
KD & Kyrie were locked in from tip-off, scoring 11 points a piece in the 1st quarter to lead the @BrooklynNets to the wire-to-wire victory! #NetsWorld Kevin Durant: 25 PTS, 14 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL Kyrie Irving: 22 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/Y9ln3lPl9E — NBA (@NBA) March 11, 2022
Simmons is still recovering from a back issue after having zero games this season due to mental health issues and a trade demand prior to the start of the 2021 offseason.
Sixers as a whole were too focused on Simmons during the last three days. There was an extra security presence around the Nets’ bench, with one extra guard posted halfway up each section to make sure fans closer to Simmons didn’t get boisterous, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN.
Fans remained mostly quiet in the second half as the Sixers continued getting blown out in their first defeat of the Joel Embiid and James Harden as a duo.
“That’s fun as a competitor. I always say I relish in those moments, and I’m grateful I get a chance to go against other great players. And really go at them, and they go at me,” Kyrie said on guarding Harden.
Kyrie went off for 22 points along with five assists and four rebounds to go with his focused defense on James Harden, who shot 3-of-17 from the field.
The Nets did not secure a playoff spot last night. However, it was an important victory in a playoff setting. They are still eighth in the East, hoping to accumulate more wins in the last few games of the season to at least avoid the play-in tournament.
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