Jonathan Bachman/Getty Photographs
Kevin Durant’s MCL sprain could wind up costing him the MVP within the remaining voting, however his absence is just serving to focus on his worth to followers.
The Brooklyn Nets dropped their fourth straight recreation with out Durant on Thursday, dropping a 117-112 recreation to the Phoenix Suns that was not as shut as the ultimate rating. Phoenix led by as many as 24 factors earlier than the Nets went on a fourth-quarter scoring barrage to attract the sport inside two factors inside eight seconds remaining.
The Suns managed to keep away from a full-scale collapse and finish their very own three-game dropping streak, which has include Chris Paul and Devin Booker out of the lineup.
The absence of Paul and Booker leaves Brooklyn with little excuse for the loss except for the actual fact this crew merely is not superb with out Durant on the ground.
Jac Manuell @JacManuell
Watching the Nets with out Kevin Durant: pic.twitter.com/Ix4TPn4W7y
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
And what we’re studying — for the second consecutive 12 months — is {that a} wholesome Kevin Durant covers up a complete lot of flaws on an inconsistent Nets roster.
Brooklyn Netcast @BrooklynNetcast
If this does not say Kevin Durant is probably the most worthwhile participant in basketball then I do not know what does.
Matt Brooks @MattBrooksNBA
I do not perceive how each single member of the Nets, teaching included, utterly falls aside when Kevin Durant will get harm.
Kyrie Irving completed with 30 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists however continued his stretch of dreadful taking pictures with Durant out of the lineup. Irving made simply 11 of his 27 shot makes an attempt and is taking pictures simply 38.0 p.c total throughout Brooklyn’s dropping streak.
The CaruShow 🐐 @BaldMambaSZN
Kyrie as the first possibility on a crew pic.twitter.com/b4w7TpWX3A
(Depressed) W🅰️VID @DavidAtake
Kyrie with out KD pic.twitter.com/lQW04ufRDB
Justin Termine @TermineRadio
Did not even take every week with out Durant for the Nets to have their effort questioned on TNT.
Identical factor each single time you ask Kyrie to steer, not solely do you lose— you unravel.
Making issues worse: The Nets’ final three losses have all come towards groups beneath the .500 mark. These are video games they need to be capable to win with Durant out of the lineup. Dropping a recreation to the Boston Celtics is absolutely excusable; dropping to the Thunder and a barebones Suns crew will not be.
Brooklyn’s subsequent likelihood to proper the ship comes Friday evening in Utah, which is one other winnable recreation. After that, although, the Nets take journeys to Golden State and Philadelphia and will shortly be taking a look at a seven-game dropping streak in the event that they fail to handle enterprise towards the Jazz.
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