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After two preseason games of playing together, the Brooklyn Nets All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving finally saw the court for the first time in the regular season. As expected, there was a lot of buzz surrounding the chemistry of the two notable stars and how they would compliment each other's style of play on the floor.
Although they don't own the best off-court reputations, it can't be argued that they are certainly two of the best players that the league has to offer. In their first tilt together against the Golden State Warriors, both Durant and Irving proved that their partnership won't turn out to be a fluke, at least for now.
The Nets jumped off the gun and got to a hot start as they concluded the first quarter with a 40-25 outcome. The Brooklyn-based squad continued to step on the gas pedal in the second quarter and never looked back until the final frame as they finished the game on a 125-99 rout of the Warriors.
There wasn't a need for Durant to log huge minutes as the Nets easily cruised against Dub Nation. However, he still played the game in his usual effortless manner and chalked up 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists through 24 minutes of action. Durant shot a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe and snagged three steals and a block along the way.
On the other hand, Irving displayed his signature dribble crossovers en route to 26 points, four rebounds, and four assists including a 4/7 clip from beyond the arc all in a span of 25 minutes on the floor.
Luckily for the Nets, the debut of their new duo came at a time where the Warriors were shorthanded with the absences of their key players. Veteran forward Draymond Green was ruled out of the game due to knee soreness while sharpshooter Klay Thompson will sit out the remainder of the season due to a right Achilles injury suffered during the offseason.
In addition, the Warriors also failed to find the bottom of the net as Stephen Curry's supporting cast didn't leave a significant imprint in the game. Andrew Wiggins only generated 13 points while Kelly Oubre Jr. was limited to six points and seven rebounds which was nowhere near the production that many are expecting to get out of the two veteran swingmen.
Contrary to the Warriors' lackluster production from the field, the other pieces of the Nets managed to show out in the first game of the season. Rising star Caris Levert emerged as the third man behind Durant and Irving as he recorded an all-around performance of 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in 24 minutes played. Shooter Joe Harris contributed 10 points and seven rebounds while Spencer Dinwiddie added nine points and five rebounds of his own.
The Nets players' contribution from different areas on the court made the game much easier for Durant and Irving as the team easily cruised to their first win of the season.
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Grade: A+
There were a lot of uncertainties heading to the 2020-2021 season with the formation of Durant and Irving's intriguing new partnership. Many speculated on the drama that will emerge in the Nets locker room, quite similar to the events that transpired out of the Los Angeles Clippers last season.
While it is still too early to say that they won't be involved in such activities, both Durant and Irving managed to silence some of the talking heads by focusing on the task at hand and getting the job done against the Warriors.
If the team's supporting cast will be able to emulate how the bench players of the Los Angeles Lakers rallied behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis last season, it will certainly make the Nets a far more dangerous squad moving forward.
With two All-Star caliber performers at the helm, the team is already expected by many to garner heightened expectations for the remainder of their 2020-2021 campaign. A playoff spot in the weaker Eastern Conference should be attainable for head coach Steve Nash and his men by the end of the season. However, the challenge for the Nets lies in their ability to figure out their true identity as a unit and build on their momentum as they head to face tougher contenders in the near future.
There are still many games left to see how the duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will ultimately pan out to be but their win against the Warriors was certainly a step in the right direction. Barring any injuries, the Nets faithful can bet their money that their two new stars can carry the franchise back to relevance for the years to come.
