New York, Jan. 16 (BUS): James Harden believes the Brooklyn Nets may face some bad luck despite their position near the top of the Eastern Conference.
The All-Star goalkeeper scored 27 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds to give the Nets a 120-105 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, despite NBA leader Kevin Durant losing in the first half with a left knee sprain.
“Tonight, what happened to KD and then Ky (Kyrie Irving) because they can only play road games and Joe (Harris), Nic (Claxton) and LaMarcus (Aldridge), but we’ve been a flexible group all year, since I’ve been here,” Harden When asked if the nets have been bitten by a rattlesnake. “And we just have to keep going, keep pushing, keep pushing.”
Durant was injured at 5:44 in the second quarter when New Orleans forward Herbert Jones was driving into the field and collided with Nets reserve guard Bruce Brown, who fell to Durant’s knee, the Associated Press reported.
Durant walked around the field briefly before asking to be taken out of the game. He finished with 12 points and was walking limp when he left the arena in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Harden and coach Steve Nash said he will have an MRI test on Sunday.
The Nets were short-handed, with both middles Aldridge and Claxton sidelined. Aldridge has missed the last five games due to soreness in the right foot. Claxton has not played his last three games due to a tight left hamstring.
Harris is recovering from left ankle surgery in November. Irving joined the Nets last week but was not allowed to play home games at Barclays Center due to the New York City COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
“You guys have to step up,” Harden said. “You obviously know how amazing KD is and what he brings to the table every night consistently. So, players have to step up and fill that role and keep competing.”
Nash, who never had a chance to speak to Durant before the game ended, knows it will be difficult for Brooklyn to replace the two-time NBA Finals player of the year if he has to miss some time.
“Yeah, of course it would be hard for me to lose him,” Nash said. “You know that no one wants to see that. Obviously we hope for the best result. No matter the outcome, we have to keep working, building, growing, improving and competing.”
Patty Mills added 21 points, Cam Thomas scored 20 from the bench and Kessler Edwards scored 16 points for the Nets, who was never behind in the game.
Brandon Ingram scored 22 points and Josh Hart 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who won twice in a row.
New Orleans fell by 10 at the end of the first quarter and was late by as much as 30 points in the second. The Pelicans shot 15 for only 44 from the field while they beat them 27-17 in the first half.
“We could have come out with more energy,” Hart said. “Defensively we were terrible.”
Harden had 13 points and 11 assists as the Nets jumped to 69-41 in the first half, shooting 26-for-48 from the field, including an 8-for-16 behind the 3-point streak.
New Orleans advanced 11-0 to close the gap 71-55 with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter before Mills played three points to stem the Nets drought.
Hint
Pelicans: Five New Orleans junior players scored in double digits. Jones and Jonas Valencionas each scored 13. Graham Defonte added 10.
Nets: Daeron Sharp finished the Novice with 12 points and 10 high rebounds in his two-year double career. Sharp (20 years, 70 days) became the fourth youngest person in franchise history to double. …this was Harden’s 20th game with at least 25 points and 15 rebounds.
next one
The Pelicans: They continued their three-game wild ride in Boston on Monday.
Nets: Open a four-game road trip in Cleveland on Monday.