DETROIT _ As he stood at the top of the key, Kevin Durant reached a moment where he had plenty of options to dig out of what he has called his "bag of tricks."
This time, Durant chose to unveil his precise footwork, smooth ball handling and accurate shooting stroke. He crossed over Pistons guard Anthony Tolliver three times. Durant then cut above the free-throw line and he pulled up for a mid-range jumper that splashed into the net.
That second-quarter sequence marked one of many moments in which Durant seemingly did anything he wanted in the Warriors' 102-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
With the Warriors (21-6) missing Stephen Curry with a sprained right ankle, Durant filled most of the scoring load with a season-high 36 points, while shooting 12 of 23 from the field, 3 of 6 from 3-point range and 9 of 10 from the foul line and posting 10 rebounds. With the Warriors pledging they would still rely on ball movement over star power, Durant also had seven assists while Warriors forward Draymond Green added a season-high 13 assists to go along with two points, six rebounds, six blocks and three steals.
Durant was not perfect. He committed a costly turnover that set up Pistons guard Avery Bradley sinking a 3-pointer that cut the Warriors' lead to 100-98 with 22.7 seconds left. Warriors guard Shaun Livingston missed two foul shots. But Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Livingston stopped Pistons guard Reggie Jackson at the basket. Thompson then made two foul shots for a 102-98 lead with 5.3 seconds remaining.
Thompson had 21 points on 8 of 18 shooting, though he went only 2 of 9 from 3-point range and missed his first six attempts.
That explains why Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy hardly sounded relieved beforehand about Curry sitting out.
"Yeah, they have to go to guys like Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson," Van Gundy cracked.
Bradley paced the Pistons with 25 points.
