It may not have impacted the final box score much, but during the Nets' (4-3) 117-91 win over the Detroit Pistons, Kevin Durant was ejected for throwing an elbow at forward Kelly Olynyk. KD still finished with 23 points, 5 assists, on a blistering hot 10-13 from the field. The Nets were in control pretty much all along even after he was tossed.
Things got chippy in the third quarter.
KD gets ejected from the game after pushing Olynyk pic.twitter.com/izN5MB8z4W
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 1, 2021
“I tried to run through the screen,” explained Durant after the win. “And yeah that was just the result of me trying to blow the screen up. From looking at it on the tape it looked like (my elbow) extended a little bit but I was just trying to blow the screen up, get over, fight through. It is what it is.”
KD was seen smiling about it. After the contest, both he and the head coach made light of the situation.
Asked if his top Nets star was feeling any aggravation, or pressure, or frustration with new rule changes, resulting in him throwing a ball into the stands one night, getting fined for that, then getting ejected the next, Steve Nash declined to play armchair psychologist.
“I don’t have my therapist’s license,” said Nash. “I would say they were just two random events. And wouldn't read too much into it. I think he's had a laugh about both of them. And held his hand up, especially with chucking the ball up in the stands the other day. It was just a random and hilarious event we’ll put behind us.”
The team went on a run following the incident. Durant jokingly stole a bit of credit for sparking that run.




“I wanna take credit and say I ignited my team,” said a tongue-in-cheek Durant. “My leadership was the reason they were able to go on that 11 -0 run. So I ignited the crowd with me getting kicked out, and my team.”
The Nets were in good hands with James Harden, once Slim Reaper wasn't available. Harden recorded his first triple-double of the season with a full quarter to play.
First triple-double of the season for Harden 😤
➤ 18 Pts
➤ 10 Reb
➤ 12 AstStill one quarter left to play. pic.twitter.com/Cx0N9yVhJL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 1, 2021
Much has been said about Harden's adjustment to new rule changes aimed at non-basketball moves; as well as his return from injury. But Harden has looked more explosive the last two games. He dropped 29 points, eight dimes, and eight boards in a win over the Pacers on Friday, before helping to put the Pistons away early on Sunday.
The Nets will have a couple of days rest before Wednesday's showdown vs. the Hawks. If KD gets fined or ejected from this one, then we may have a new pattern to monitor. Brooklyn is in a two-way tie for the 7th seed in the East. After hosting Atlanta, they'll rematch with the Pistons in Detroit. Then we'll see if there's any bad blood between Durant and Olynyk. The Pistons' forward isn't the best player to mix it up with. He has a bit of a history committing some gruesome fouls.
All in all, it looks like the Nets are starting to get into a rhythm, which is a great sign.