Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has had his fair share of game-winning moments. He's one player who doesn't shy away from taking the big shot, especially when the stakes are enormous. But on Sunday, he was on the receiving end of a game-winning play, as Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum buried the Nets in Game 1 of their first round matchup in the NBA Playoffs.
Tatum made a pirouette layup as time expired, leaving Durant and the Nets exasperated after a tough fightback. After the defeat, KD admitted that despite his vast experience, losing via a last-second shot is still a bitter pill to swallow, per ClutchPoints' Dave Early.
“They still sting, you know? Even though we know it's a series, they sting and you wanna move past it. (We) still (need to) look at film from this one but move past it and get ready for Game 2.”
"That they still sting, you know? Even though we know it's a series, they sting and you wanna move past it…. still look at film from this one but move past it and get ready for Game 2."
-Durant admits despite all his experience, losing by one on a last second shot still stings pic.twitter.com/CmFW26mXHC
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) April 18, 2022




Durant had a poor showing by Kevin Durant standards. He finished with 23 but needed 24 shots, only making nine of them. He also committed a game-high six turnovers. The Nets, as a unit, had 16 errors.
But his fellow star Kyrie Irving already said he's not too worried about his partner in crime's less-than-ideal performance, noting “we all know who he is.” Irving carried the load for the Nets, tallying 39 points on 12-of-20 field goal shooting, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.
KD and the Nets will try to move on from the stinging loss in Game 2 on Wednesday.