The shorthanded Brooklyn Nets got the job done against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. The first place Nets now improve to 20-8 and hold a 2.5 game lead over the second place Chicago Bulls. Coming into the contest, things were out of control. Late on Monday, forward Paul Millsap was ruled out due to health and safety protocols. Then we learned on Tuesday that five more Nets would be out after testing positive for Covid as well.

As if it couldn't get more weird, just before the game started, we learned James Harden and Bruce Brown had tested positive also. The game would not have been played at all had Kevin Durant (listed questionable with an ankle) been unable to go.

Steve Nash was asked how he and his staff handle all of the injury and illness updates given so much uncertainty in these crazy times.

“Yeah I try not to get to up and down about it,” said Nets coach Steve Nash. “Just let all the information come in kind of get a handle on what's coming down the pipeline, what decisions will have to be made, just be calm.”

Nash also gave an update on Durant in the same answer, following the huge 131-129 overtime win. It sounds like despite all of the hurdles, Kevin Durant badly wanted to play.

“It [was] also a decision on Kevin's ankle and whether we could play the game at all. But Kevin wanted to play. Wanted to play even under these conditions and he was rewarded for that.”

Nash mentioned that Durant was “rewarded” for pushing through the pain and playing. You can see what he means here.

Durant had 34 points, 11 dimes, and 13 boards for a cool triple-double, despite the injury tag coming in.

“I was gassed for sure there in that fourth,” said an emotional Durant after the Nets game. “And so to see Kess, Patty, Duke, make plays, Blake, make plays in that fourth, reenergized me going into that overtime and I was able to hit a couple shots there in the overtime and give us a little small cushion if anything.”

Durant referenced Kessler Edwards, Patty Mills, David Duke Jr. and Blake Griffin who all joined in and stepped up. Edwards, a rookie seeing his first real NBA action, was a beast and exploded for a double-double in 44 enormous minutes.

“Kess, he was outstanding,” gushed Nash. “Obviously 17 [points] ten [rebounds], two steals, 2 assists, three threes, he started the game and he didn't run in for a dunk, he gave up an offensive rebound and we just told him play, be aggressive, have fun out there, you're a good player show it. And man he responded, so really proud of him and all these guys,” praised the head coach.

Related NewsArticle continues below
Nets best trade options with first-round pick
Brooklyn Nets’ best trade options with 4 1st-round picks in 2025 NBA Draft
Duke Blue Devils guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide center Clifford Omoruyi (11) during the second half in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.
Ranking 5 best Kon Knueppel destinations in 2025 NBA Draft

“In that third we down 44-25,” explained Durant, “I done seen teams get down that big and just go the other way and splinter and everybody go their separate ways but we stayed together.”

Patty Mills was brilliant as well. The former Spur had a season high 30 points on top of a scorching 7 of 14 from downtown. The Australia native was so hot from distance he had Sarah Kustok on the YES Network broadcast yelling “Patty Melt!” The vet kept hope live by draining a game tying triple to force OT.

“You come into the locker room to prepare for a game, well I guess this morning, you hear the news,” explained Mills, “and there's two things that coulda happened. We coulda said ‘look this is unfortunate times and its too much adversity and fold' or we coulda gone out there and played with the heart and the passion like we did,” said Mills, one of the team's emotional leaders.

Durant really seemed to love this win in particular and was happy for his teammates.

“Man, I can't even explain how I feel,” said the Nets superstar. “Especially, it's December and we down seven players. We coulda easily just punted this game….I'm so proud to be part of this group and play with these young dudes. Man it was amazing to be out there.”

Durant was asked about his ankle. Was he really a game time decision?

“This morning I felt good, I felt a little sore but I felt like it was something I could play on so I knew I could play this morning,” explained Durant. “I wasn't expecting James [Harden] and Bruce [Brown] to be out 'til I got to the game which was a surprise but that made me even more excited to play this game with the young dudes,” said KD.

He obviously didn't mean to throw any shade but it's still pretty funny to hear he was extra excited when he learned he'd get the young core to himself in this one.

But the unquestioned leader of the team clarified his point.

“I hate that my teammates are out,” said the 2014 MVP, logging his most minutes in years. “I wish everybody was playing but I knew it was a great opportunity for all of us to hoop for one, but just to go out there and see where we are against a solid team . So I can't wait for the rest of the guys to get back, we miss them all, it's weird not having them in the locker room so hopefully all the guys get better here soon and we can have our full team together but tonight was fun.”

This was one of those games the team exuded joy. It's a shame they couldn't share it with the other half of the squad. Here's hoping they remain mostly asymptomatic.