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Tempers were flaring in this one. Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers came to Barclays Center looking for some revenge. The Brooklyn Nets sit comfortably in first place in the Eastern Conference and have won both prior games versus the Sixers. Kevin Durant has pretty much owned Embiid and company this season and even waved his hands to send them out in their last meeting.
But on Thursday night, it was Embiid and the Sixers who got a big road win, 110-102. With the loss, the Nets dropped to 23-10.
It was Durant's first game back after a positive COVID-19 test. He may have looked a little rusty at first. But he quickly shook that off and got blistering hot. The Nets sniper finished with 33 points, six rebounds, and four assists. No one in a red jersey could check him.
But still, the Sixers, who were without coach Doc Rivers due to health and safety protocols, got the victory. Embiid had 34 points, seven boards, three steals, and one block. Tyrese Maxey also contributed after dropping 25 points with some clutch buckets.
But it was Embiid's trash talk with Durant that had people chirping on social media. At one point down the stretch, things got pretty chippy between them as the Sixers pulled away against the Nets.
Durant and Embiid jaw’ing in the final moments as the 76ers defeat the Nets pic.twitter.com/wd4lcAd2oh
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 31, 2021
"We just respect each other so much, that natural competitive fire I guess comes out…Letting them know we coming with the same energy and liked the energy they played with tonight. We love competition it's only going to make you better."
-Durant on trash talking with Embiid.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) December 31, 2021
But after the Nets' defeat, Durant downplayed his verbal skirmish with Embiid.
“We just respect each other so much,” said Durant. “That natural competitive fire I guess comes out, so that's the name of the game. Letting them know we coming with the same energy and liked the energy they played with tonight. We love competition it's only going to make you better.”
"I'm glad that can bring the best out of an opponent"
Kevin Durant talks about his waving gesture toward the 76ers earlier this season and seeing Joel Embiid return it tonight pic.twitter.com/M9wBBMDmS2
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) December 31, 2021
Did anything Embiid say cross the line? He is a master troll sometimes.
“Nah, hell no,” said KD. “He didn't really say nothing, I think I just was turnt up, you know? Just trying to, I mean what? We (were) down 8, 10? They got the game in control so just letting them know we still here I guess. Nah, he didn't say nothing that crossed the line. We all respect each other out there. We respect this team, I respect all the players on this team and vice versa so just how we play.”
Durant, however, admitted that some of the tension might have stemmed from his goodbye wave to the Sixers in their prior game.
“Yeah, I'm sure they didn't like that. But I'm glad that can bring the best out of my opponent. And then come out here and play extremely hard. Like I said, that's only gonna make me better as a player and us better as a team so yeah, of course, they felt a way about that but I told them ‘We're gonna keep the same energy, regardless. Win or lose, I'ma still be me,'” said the 2014 MVP.
Sounds like Durant loves to mix it up. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green recently said his former teammate is one of the top trash talkers in the game. Now we know that the Nets star is not just doing it to get under a player's skin, but also doing it to make his opponent's play even better. That way, it helps him hone his craft and get motivated, while also sending the message that win or lose, the Nets are going to bring the heat.
