Kevin Durant showed semblance to the ruthless scorer he was during the last two rounds of the postseason last year, tallying a game-high 38 points to take a decisive 118-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 4, bringing the series to 3-1 in favor of the Golden State Warriors.
“I don't know,” said Durant. “That's a good question. I don't know.”
KD on how to guard KD: ¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/fInAFbDsDF
— ESPN (@espn) May 6, 2018
As efficient as he has been this season, shooting over 50 percent for the year — Sunday was the first night of the series in which he had shot 50 percent or better — something he attributed to putting in work before taking the floor.
“The work I put in yesterday after practice really prepared me for today,” said Durant. “I tried to go through practice and my workouts in game-speed, so it can be a little easier when I step up for a real game.”
Durant made and took the most shots of anyone on the team, going a crisp 15-of-27 from the floor and a much-improved 2-of-5 from deep after making only three of his last 13 shots from distance in the previous two tilts.
The 2014 MVP punished the Pelicans for matching him up against smaller defenders after Nikola Mirotic was burnt in Game 1.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry put Jrue Holiday on him, even with a six-plus-inch height disparity and he got burnt once again, as Durant had previously dropped 41 points on him during the regular season.
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