The Nets' 0-4 start to Kevin Durant's extended absence drew strong comparisons to last season's downward spiral with the superstar sidelined. The team posted a 5-16 record, including an 11-game losing streak, after Durant went down with the same injury this time last year.

However, Brooklyn quickly silenced that narrative with back-to-back wins over Utah and Golden State. The latter was a 17-point comeback in which the Nets received contributions from several role players in the final minutes. Durant spoke Tuesday for the first time since sustaining an MCL sprain in Miami on Jan. 8. And the 12-time All-Star gave high praise to his team's resilience in the win over his former team.

“When you're missing one of your starters it's always going to be a rough first couple of games, but I figured the coaching staff and the players would come together to figure out the best way for us to play,” Kevin Durant said. “We did that the last two games, going in there and beating two good teams, (including) the reigning champions who have been playing great at home. I just think that it was a character win and shows who we are as a group mentally and physically.”

Several differences stick out when assessing the Nets during Durant's absence last season compared to now. The biggest is undoubtedly Kyrie Irving's full-time status. Irving was only eligible for road games last year while refusing to comply with New York's workplace vaccine mandate.

After struggling initially without his co-star, the guard scored 48 points to lead Brooklyn to a win at Utah Friday. He followed that up with 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from three at Golden State Sunday.

During his last three performances, the fourth-year Net is averaging 38.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three. The span marks the first time in Irving's career he has recorded 30-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in three straight games.

Nic Claxton continued his breakout season in the win over the Warriors, posting 24 points and 15 rebounds, both career-highs. The 23-year-old has blocked three or more shots in 12-straight games, marking the longest streak in Nets franchise history. Joe Harris and Royce O'Neale also broke out of extended struggles in the pair of wins, shooting a combined 18-of-33 from the field and 14-of-28 from three.

Durant pointed to his team's resilience when asked what he's observed while watching from home.

“Just the confidence that they have in one another on both ends of the floor,” he said. “(We) get down, we still keep playing. That's what we've been doing all year. No matter who's in the lineup, guys are stepping up. (Nic) Claxton is playing great ball, Kyrie is playing great ball, Ben (Simmons), Joe (Harris), everybody is playing great ball these last couple of games.

“And that's what we're going to need going forward. Watching those games I just get excited to get back out there and try and help as well.”

While the circumstances surrounding Kevin Durant's injury are eerily similar to last year, the Nets appear better equipped to handle his absence this time around. And like Irving, the former MVP shut down the narrative comparing the two situations.

“It's a different year, a different time. It looks like the same situation, but it's different,” he said. “It's hard to compare anything. Like I said, it's always tough when one of your main guys goes out of the lineup and you're trying to readjust on the fly. It's going to take some time.

“It took us four games. Luckily we still were 12, 13 games over .500, so it was cool to take that little stretch and learn so we could get better moving forward. It was tough to go through but it was much needed to take those lumps.”

Brooklyn sits one game back of Philadelphia for second place in the Eastern Conference and a half-game back of Milwaukee for third following the 2-4 stretch. The team will play eight more games before Durant is re-evaluated in two weeks. The Nets will open that stretch against the Philadelphia 76ers when they travel to Wells Fargo Center Wednesday.