The Nets weathered the loss of one star Wednesday night because their biggest star would not let them lose.
They missed Ben Simmons on the glass and on defense under the hoop, too often looking too small and too thin. But Kevin Durant, fresh off a 45-point explosion two nights earlier, poured in 39 points, helping the Nets outshoot their rebounding issues in a 113-107 win over the Wizards at Barclays Center.
The Nets (12-11) have won a season-high three straight and are above .500 for the first time in 2022-23. They have yet to lose to begin a seven-game homestand that Kyrie Irving called “essential.”
Durant, who had 16 points in the first quarter, shot 13-for-20 from the field and knocked down all 11 of his free throws. He helped provide an early lead that evaporated by late in the third quarter.
“I’m just playing carefree basketball,” said Durant, who has made an astounding 44 of his past 64 shots from the field. “I think that’s the best way to play.”
In the fourth quarter, it was Irving’s turn to be carefree. The point guard scored 15 of his 27 points in the last period to pick up the slack.
The Nets were up just 82-79 after a free throw by Washington’s Corey Kispert with 11:14 left in the fourth when Irving went to work. He scored eight points in three and half minutes, using a jumper, an and-one on a stepback and a 3-pointer to help give the Nets a 93-84 lead with 7:17 left. The Nets withstood Washington runs the rest of the way.
In his sixth game back following his suspension, Irving said he believes he’s coming around.
“For me to be removed like that, my rhythm of course was thrown off,” said Irving, who was suspended for eight games. “I mean, I didn’t play for 14 days or something like that. … I had to work myself back into rhythm.”
Durant, who had five rebounds and five assists, tied his own (and James Harden’s) franchise record with four straight games of 30-plus points, five or more rebounds and five or more assists. With more points and more minutes played than anyone in the NBA, Durant is making a convincing case he is the best player in the world.
“Sometimes I have to make sure I don’t take him for granted,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said. “The fact that he shows up every single day. He’s ready to work, he’s ready to listen, he’s ready to be a great teammate.”
He is carrying the team at an opportune time. Without Simmons, who will be out for at least a week with a left lateral upper calf strain, the Nets had to dust off guards Edmond Sumner (eight points in 15 minutes), Cam Thomas (six points in 19 minutes) and big man Markieff Morris (who played four minutes), volleying between smaller and bigger lineups. Joe Harris (14 points on 5-for-10 shooting) stepped into the starting lineup and stepped up, too.
But on defense and on the boards, the Nets had few answers for Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with 27 points and 19 rebounds. The former Knick shot over Royce O’Neale and was able to gain position too often against Durant, who was asked to do more on defense with Simmons out.
The Wizards had 15 more second-chance points and 15 more rebounds, but went 6-for-24 from beyond the 3-point arc, which opened the door for the Nets’ stars to take control.
Vaughn acknowledged that Durant playing as much as he has is “not ideal.” But due to Simmons’ absence and Irving’s suspension, the Nets have had to lean on Durant, who has not fallen over.
“There’s nothing normal about what we do out there on the floor. [Durant is] a God-given talent,” Irving said of his buddy. “But when we see it displayed so effortlessly, so efficiently, we definitely have to celebrate that.”
And for the first time all season, the Nets will enter a game, Friday against the Raptors, with a winning record.
“Something to celebrate for sure,” Irving said. “Something definitely not to take for granted. A lot of hard work to get to this point.”