The entire basketball world finally saw the Brooklyn Nets' All-Star pairing of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for the first time in their preseason opener against the Washington Wizards.
After the game, Durant only had high praise for his new running mate in Irving, who showed out with a glimpse of his elite offensive skills in their first stint together:
Kevin Durant: "Kyrie looked incredible. He's unstoppable. He's a master at his craft."
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) December 14, 2020
Durant looked like his usual self even after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals, which caused him to miss the entirety of last season. The 2014 NBA MVP effortlessly registered 15 points, three rebounds, and three dimes through 23 minutes of action in his first game back.
On the other hand, Irving is also returning from a long layoff after undergoing season-ending surgery to his right shoulder, which ultimately kept him out of the Orlando bubble for the 2020 playoff proceedings. He didn't disappoint, with 18 points and four assists in 17 minutes played.
Apart from the superstar duo, the Nets' depth was also seen, as the team's supporting cast of Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, Landry Shamet, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot all logged double-digit scoring outputs apiece in the game.
After getting off to a red-hot start behind the two stars, Brooklyn ultimately held off a Wizards squad that was without their top two players in Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal. The Nets managed to come out on top with a 119-114 victory, but everyone was just glad to see both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving finally healthy and back on the floor once again.
Brooklyn has just one more preseason game on the docket, and it's scheduled for Friday against Irving's old team in the Boston Celtics.
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