Kevin Durant etches name among NBA's greatest showings

Rings aren’t awarded for the type of game Kevin Durant had on Tuesday night. However, history is written.

And chisel statues. And craft legacies.

Despite the trophy named after him, Hall of Famer Bill Russell didn’t appear following Durant’s outstanding performance. This is because he and his Brooklyn teammates have yet to secure half of the 16 victories required to win in the postseason. Nevertheless, NBA excellence can manifest at any stage of the playoffs, given the right mix of circumstances, urgency, and achievement.

When Durant’s response perfectly met the challenge as it did in Game 5 of the Nets’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against Milwaukee, it’s similar to that famous quote from an old Western: When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

Durant etched his name among some of the league’s most impressive and memorable individual nights ever, carrying Brooklyn to its 114-108 victory and a 3-2 series lead over the Bucks. With his numbers alone – 49 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, two blocks and 16-of-23 shooting – he broke new ground. No one in history – not Michael Jordan, not LeBron James, not Wilt Chamberlain, not anyone else – ever put up at least 45 points, 15 boards and 10 assists in an NBA playoff game.

However, it went beyond mere statistics. Durant identified the needs of the Nets, as two-thirds of their Big Three were injured, following consecutive losses and an impending sense of losing grip, coupled with Milwaukee’s resolve to stop exactly what ended up happening.

He stepped up to the challenge and secured it for them, dedicating a solid 48 minutes of playtime, not missing a single second, to ensure the win. Brooklyn was on a thin line till the end, with Kyrie Irving out due to an ankle sprain, and James Harden’s participation uncertain due to a hamstring issue, as he attempted to play after a 10-day hiatus.

“Nets coach Steve Nash expressed admiration for Durant’s performance, stating, ‘What he can do is just absurd. We were aware of his potential to have nights like this, but him doing it tonight…With Ky missing and James pressing on despite his issues, we are short-handed and hurting. Yet, Durant’s resilience and mindset are what rank him among the all-time greats,'” Nash said.

Here’s another point to consider: Despite the common practice among contemporary stars to share the workload and pressure, it is often an individual, standout performance that garners the most recognition. The performance Durant put on Tuesday is likely to gain him more respect in the long run than the two championships he secured by joining the already successful Golden State dynasty in 2016.

Durant shared his thoughts on his performance in this game, saying, “I was completely focused on each possession, without concern for my tally of points, shot attempts, rebounds or assists. My approach, as always, was to try and win each possession. This mindset allowed me to accumulate a good number of points. Indeed, playing every minute of the game certainly boosted my point total.”

The NBA’s leading players, more than anything, keep a keen eye on their playing time statistics. This is particularly true when they’re 32 years old, have played 14 seasons, and are only 45 games into recovery from an Achilles injury that not only ended their previous playoff appearance but also obliterated their entire 2019-20 season.

Durant had been averaging 39.4 minutes in the first four games of the series, but the prospect of resting him for about eight minutes in Game 5 was a challenge from the outset. It was only in the second half that Durant said Nash and assistant coach Jacque Vaughn appeared to comprehend the extent to which they were pushing him.

“The 6-foot-10, 11-time All-Star said, ‘They just inquired if I needed a hand, saying they were ready to escort me out. I responded, if it’s not necessary, I’m fine. I believe I can manage on my own from now on.'”

Durant racked up 31 points in the second half, with 20 of those points coming in the fourth quarter, as the Nets rallied to outclass the Bucks. At one point midway through the third quarter, the visiting team had a lead of up to 17 points.

At the conclusion of that period, Brooklyn had narrowed the gap to 87-81. In the third alone, Durant had an impressive performance with 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Essentially, the Bucks could have managed if Durant had only emphasized his renowned sharpshooting skills. A possible scenario, considering his record of winning four scoring titles in five seasons from 2010 to 2014. He is not typically seen as a triple-double player like James or his former teammate Russell Westbrook, at least not until this past Tuesday when it was necessary.

Durant stated, “People perceive me to be a good scorer in basketball, which is true. However, on any team I’ve played, I’ve been tasked with not just scoring, but also rebounding, defending, and initiating. Even though I might not always do everything, I do contribute in various ways on the court.”

In Milwaukee, it seemed overwhelming. Aware that Durant would be crucial to the Nets’ efforts, the Bucks only sporadically smothered him on defense. Similarly, they didn’t take nearly enough advantage of Harden’s restricted defensive mobility.

“Harden commented on his performance, saying, “He remained calm throughout the whole game.” Despite Harden’s mixed performance upon his return, which included 1-of-10 shooting (0-of-8 on 3s), he managed six rebounds, eight assists, and nearly 46 minutes on the court. “He demonstrated great composure, particularly in the second half. He began to take his time and find his spots. I observed Kevin directing others to where he desired them to be. Once Kevin settles in – when he’s comfortable and in the zone – it becomes quite difficult to halt his momentum.”

In the first half of the game, Durant appeared to be reading the game, then took on the role of a point guard in the third quarter, before returning to his familiar role as an assassin in the fourth. He was responsible for 20 points in the last 12 minutes of the game, which was the majority of Brooklyn’s 33 and almost as many as the Bucks scored as a team (21).

Other Nets were helpful in stretches of varying length. Well-traveled Jeff Green, who was a rookie with Durant in Seattle (Seattle!) in 2007-08, shared the scoring load with 24 of his 27 points through the first three quarters. Blake Griffin had 17 by then, Nash shutting him down for the fourth. Landry Shamet’s six points in the fourth were more than every Milwaukee player except Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This night belonged to Durant from beginning to end. He made his most significant basket with only 50.5 seconds remaining, dodging Khris Middleton just as Brooklyn was on the brink of being hit by the shot clock, and successfully making a shot from 26 feet. This extended a one-point game to 109-105. Milwaukee only managed to get the ball once with a one-possession gap – and at 109-107, a short pass from Middleton to Antetokounmpo in the paint unfortunately bounced off Antetokounmpo’s hands.

“The Greek Freak admitted, “I messed up.” He then complimented Durant, lauding his near “perfect game.”

Durant was not interested in rating Game 5 or any of his other performances. He stated, “I just move on and see if I can replicate them once they occur.” He added, “That game was enjoyable to participate in, but there have been numerous games in my career that were equally enjoyable.”

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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