Whenever you are talking about Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant, you are talking about one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. At this point, only a fool could refute that as a fact. Durant is nearly seven feet tall, has sick handles, can take you off the dribble, get to the rack and finish, pull up from the mid-range and sink shots, and is even lethal from the outside. Durant can even play with his back to basket and utilize his length to get a clean shot off. The guy obviously is as skilled offensively as any player the NBA has ever seen.
Throughout his illustrious career, the Nets forward has won MVP Awards, NBA Finals MVP'S, a couple championships and been incredibly consistent during the post season. However, there are still a few clunkers in there.
Following his poor performance against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Wednesday night, it got us wondering: What are Kevin Durant's four worst playoff performances of his career.
4. 2022 Game 1 First Round vs. Boston Celtics
Yes, Game 1 from the Nets' current playoff series is on this list. A lot of that has to do with just how great Durant has been throughout his playoff career. In the 153 playoff games during Durant's Hall of Fame career that he did not leave injured, he scored at least 20 points in 144 of them. So, yeah, it's slim picking. But I digress.
In Game 1 of this series against the Celtics, Durant and the Nets struggled offensively. The Celtics defense consistently contested shots from Durant, and he finished just 9 for 24 from the field. But not only was KD not effective shooting the ball, he didn't do anything well. He only pulled down four rebounds as the Celtics crushed the Nets on the glass.
Meanwhile, Durant turned the ball over six times and appeared to fall asleep late in the fourth quarter.
Celtics are strangling Kevin Durant, whose split-second lapse in Game 1 now looms even larger
by @bradbotkincbshttps://t.co/pRtq9rAZp5 pic.twitter.com/Kf9c7OWPmO
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) April 21, 2022
The Nets held a five point lead late in the fourth quarter, and collapsed. In a game where Kyrie Irving went crazy, scoring 18 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, Durant let his team down. This loss fell most squarely on Durant's shoulders.
3. 2011 Game 6 Western Conference Semi-Finals vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Back in 2011, Durant was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 6 was a closeout game for Durant and OKC. Even though he was early in his career at this point, he had already established himself as one of the NBA's best scorers and players.
But on this night, the Grizzlies defense left him looking for answers. He shot just 3-for-14 from the floor, and scored a then-career playoff low 11 points. That's despite playing almost 35 minutes. Durant only hit one shot from beyond the arc in nine attempts, turned it over twice as the Thunder lost by 12.
He would however make up for that poor effort in Game 7. Durant dropped 39 points, leading the Thunder into the western conference finals.
2. 2014 Game 2 Western Conference Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs




A few years later, Durant led the Thunder back to the western conference finals against the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder lost Game 1 by 17 points, leaving them in desperate need of a win the following game. It was on Durant to bring it home. He did not.
The Spurs, known for their excellent defense, shut him down. He posted one of the worst plus/minus lines of his playoff career, earning a -26 while on the floor. He finished with just 15 points on 6-for-16 shooting. Durant missed all four of his shots from deep, and only pulled down three rebounds and dished out two assists.
The game got so lob sided, Durant was benched early in the fourth quarter. The Spurs would go on to win by 35 points.
1. 2022 Game 4 First Round vs. Boston Celtics
It's hard to find a playoff game where Durant had less success than he did Wednesday night.
Kevin Durant is being treated harshly by fans after the loss. But even more so by the Celtics defense. In Durant's amazing career, I have never seen him appear flustered offensively. Numerous times, he seemed to lack the court awareness and was lazy with the basketball. Jayson Tatum blocked a couple of his shots, and not runners either. Tatum got up in him, timed his jump shot and swatted the ball away. Can you remember the last time you saw someone do that to Durant?
Kevin Durant in the 2nd half of Game 2:
0-10 FG
4 turnoversIt's the most FGA without a single make in any half of his entire career (regular & postseason).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 21, 2022
He finished 4-for-17 from the floor, but was 0-10 in the second half. That's the first time in his career, playoff or regular season, where he attempted at least 10 shots in a half and did not make a single one.
The Celtics defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, have bottled him up. They have played him physically. He has 12 turnovers in just two games this series after posting six more in Game 2. Basically, he has been punk'd by Boston.
If Brooklyn wants any chance of coming back in this series, Durant must figure out a way to get clean looks and hit some shots.