The Brooklyn Nets entered Tuesday night’s Game 5 with the Milwaukee Bucks knowing that they needed Kevin Durant to carry them if they were to have any chance of winning the game and taking a 3-2 series lead.
Well, Durant did just that and then some as he put on a masterful performance at Barclays Center, finishing with 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in the Nets’ come-from-behind 114-108 win.
Oh, and he played all 48 minutes of the game, too. All 48!
How good was Durant? He was historically good when his team – which was without an injured Kyrie Irving but with a limited James Harden – needed him the most.
Check this out:
Kevin Durant is the first player in NBA postseason history with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a game.
Durant had 30 points in a playoff half for the 2nd time in his career. He is the first Nets player with 30 points in a half over the last 25 postseasons. pic.twitter.com/gub60v4Lam
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 16, 2021
Durant had this to say after:
Kevin Durant on playing all 48 minutes, his team's toughness and their halftime adjustments after his 31-point 2nd half powers a 17-point comeback victory to put the @BrooklynNets up 3-2. #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs
KD: 49 PTS, 17 AST, 10 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/hybDlrBkiv
— NBA (@NBA) June 16, 2021
Nets coach Steve Nash was in awe of KD:
Steve Nash had a hard time putting Kevin Durant's Game 5 performance into words
"It's ridiculous what he's able to do. We know he's capable of nights like this, but to do it tonight – we're down bodies, we're wounded…that's what makes him one of the all-time greats" pic.twitter.com/64muPEqI08
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) June 16, 2021
And so was NBA Twitter:
