A four-time scoring champ, Kevin Durant may be the world’s best offensive player. But what he’s done on the other end of the court has drawn rave reviews in helping the Nets to a 2-0 first-round series lead over the Celtics.
In Tuesday’s Game 2, Durant did pour in a game-high 26 points. But he also grabbed seven defensive rebounds, blocked four shots and took up the challenge of guarding forward Jayson Tatum.
“I feel like I’ve always been a good defender. Early on in my career I was asked to score for my teams; and we had defenders that were asked to guard the best wing player,” said Durant. “But I felt like I was always helping, learning what help defense is like. It’s a journey as a scorer to try to learn defenses in the NBA, especially as an 18-, 19-year-old.
“So I’ve just been trying to learn from the defenders on my team and my coaches and over time, I think I just gradually got better at it. I’m still looking to improve in all different areas of defense, especially mentally. But I felt like I’ve always been a … I haven’t been a liability. That’s probably the main thing when you’re out there. You don’t want to be a liability, so my teammates trust me.”
Durant — who cited learning from all-defensive team teammates Thabo Sefolosha, Andre Iguodola, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson — has been far better than that against the Celtics, allowing just 2-for-10 shooting defensively.
With Tatum scoring 50 points in the play-in game and 22 in the series opener, Durant picked him up in Game 2 and was stellar. Tatum finished with just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting and three turnovers before getting inadvertently poked in the eye by Durant and leaving the game.
“Kevin obviously … poses a lot of problems defensively,” Joe Harris said. “When he’s locked-in, engaged enough, he can be an unbelievable defender. And he showed that against Jayson, who’s obviously one of the better offensive players the league has.”
The four blocks tied a season-high and are his most in the postseason since a 2017 Finals Game 2 win over Cleveland.
Jeff Green left Game 2 with a bruised left foot. The Nets didn’t practice Wednesday and will have an update Thursday.
Marcus Smart said Tuesday night that he expected Tatum to be able to play Friday’s Game 3 in Boston.
“He’s going to be OK. I don’t think it’s as serious as most people probably thought, which is good for us, good for him,” said Smart. “He’s in good spirits. I’m sure he’ll be playing in Game 3 and we’ll get right back to it.”
Brad Stevens confirmed as much on Boston radio Wednesday afternoon.
Nets center DeAndre Jordan will host the first athlete-led plant-based cooking show, “Cooking Clean.” The eight-episode series debuts Sunday on @ThePlayersTV.
Friday’s Game 3 will air on YES2 at 8:30 p.m.