{"id":157680,"date":"2021-01-19T06:30:26","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T03:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nets-durant-make-huge-statement-with-gutsy-win-over-bucks\/"},"modified":"2021-01-19T06:30:26","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T03:30:26","slug":"nets-durant-make-huge-statement-with-gutsy-win-over-bucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nets-durant-make-huge-statement-with-gutsy-win-over-bucks\/","title":{"rendered":"#Nets, Durant make huge statement with gutsy win over Bucks"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Nets, Durant make huge statement with gutsy win over Bucks<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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Everybody from experts to oddsmakers pegged Monday night\u2019s matchup as a preview of the Eastern Conference final. If it is, the Nets have to feel pretty good about the statement they just made.<\/p>\n

The Nets still clearly aren\u2019t operating at full strength, but still gutted out a 125-123 win over Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo that had a playoff vibe. In a heavyweight bout between the two teams expected to vie for a berth in the NBA Finals, the Nets took the first round with one hand tied behind their backs.<\/p>\n

Kyrie Irving missed a seventh straight game<\/a>, not expected back until at least Wednesday in Cleveland. But even without the All-Star point guard, the Nets (9-6) had just enough to eke out their fourth straight behind Kevin Durant, newly acquired star James Harden and some encouraging defense.<\/p>\n

Durant shook off a slow start to finish with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists \u2014 including the 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play for the final margin. Harden, who is still rounding into shape and hasn\u2019t had a full practice with his new team, had a game-high 34 points, 12 assists and six boards \u2014 including the final one to ice it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know them so well and you know they have a history playing together in OKC,\u201d Steve Nash said. \u201cBut it\u2019s great to see. Obviously that\u2019s the idea behind the deal. You give up a lot to get a lot; you get a generational talent like James who makes others better. So having him out there, not even in his best shape, and able to affect the game the way he did is incredibly impressive.<\/p>\n

\"Nets\"
Kevin Durant and James Harden led the Nets over the Bucks on Monday night.<\/figcaption>
Corey Sipkin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201c[Harden] can play his way back into shape and mitigate the risk of injury with that load when he is still ramping himself up. In a sense, it\u2019s a unique situation because he\u2019s so gifted that he can play at a high level even when he\u2019s not in total shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the rest of the team held up its end.<\/p>\n

The entire rest of the starting five had cracked double-figures by the end of the third quarter, Joe Harris (20 points, 5 of 7 from 3) benefitting from the star\u2019s gravity, Jeff Green (14 points) starting strong and even DeAndre Jordan (12 points, 12 boards) posting his first double-double of the season.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo matched Harden\u2019s game-high with 34 points, but Brooklyn\u2019s maligned defense held Milwaukee to 43.8 percent shooting, including 29.7 percent from behind the arc.<\/p>\n

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