AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
The last time the Golden State Warriors played the Brooklyn Nets on the Barclays Center in 2021-22, Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry heard “MVP!” chants as he exited the ground after dropping 37 points in a 117-99 win.
The Nets likely had that memory ingrained of their minds for the past 12 months, as they took out some frustration with a 143-113 blowout victory over a short-handed Warriors team Wednesday in front of their home fans in Brooklyn. As ugly as the ultimate rating is, it wasn’t even that close.
Brooklyn never trailed, led by as many as 44 points and took a 91-51 lead into halftime. The Nets set a franchise record for points in a primary half, in addition to the third-highest total in NBA history. The Warriors were without Curry (shoulder) and Klay Thompson (rest) for Wednesday’s game, but Brooklyn showed no mercy.
Kevin Durant played just 29 minutes and led the best way with 23 points, 21 of which got here in the primary half. All five Nets starters scored in double figures and shot over 50 percent from the sector. In all, nine players scored 10 or more points for Brooklyn, which was without point guard Kyrie Irving (calf).
NBA Twitter lit up with praise for Durant and Co. because the Nets cruised to their seventh straight win:
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
I’m impressed by Brooklyn. KD has The Look.
The Nets dropped a franchise-record 91 points in the primary half 😱 pic.twitter.com/Q5fZWRLqUJ
Kevin Durant is having a rehearsal tonight with the Warriors
Marcus Thompson II @ThompsonScribe
Nets put up NINETY ONE points in 24 minutes.
Think they remembered the last time the Warriors were in Barclays?
Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan @NekiasNBA
The Nets put up 73/68/80 shooting splits in the primary half lmbo
the nets dropped a full rodman on them https://t.co/ElX3o0XVey
Halftime: Nets lead the Warriors 91-51. Kevin Durant is 8-for-9 with 21 points. If you’re up by 40, it’s hard to blow a lead like that. We should always be seeing the top of the bench halfway through the third if not earlier.
The Nets have 91 PTS on the half 😳 pic.twitter.com/S1wLShjyCm
The Nets just set a franchise record for points in a primary half 🤯
91 points are the third-most scored in a primary half in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/ntWyoBma0u
That Nets-Warriors halftime rating cannot be real lmao
The Nets dropped the Third-most points a team has ever scored in the first half of an NBA game. Their 40-point lead can be tied for the Tenth-largest half point lead ever.
KD 21points
Warriors Starters 20points combined#IsThatGood?
Should KD play within the second half??
“Break it Up, Trade KD and Kyrie for whatever you’ll be able to get” Kendrick Perkins
7/1/2022 we aint forget. https://t.co/MqcnJauCZ7
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
James Wiseman Other NBA defenders
🤝🏾
Cannot guard KD
I believe the dudes at Rucker Park put up more resistance than this lmao. KD just toying with the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/G4EMowfMrn
KD could easily take this game over, but I like that he’s trying to get everyone involved and allow them to cook up. That is leadership. (At the least that is my perception of what is happening)
Nets celebrating the Correa news in style
DurantMuse (Parody account) @Durantmuse
Kevin Durant completely owns the Golden State Warriors
KD vs some YMCA randoms out here 😭 pic.twitter.com/hxJPwVndFY
Nets doing exactly what an incredible team should do without delay vs the soldiers. Excellent
You must never ever take as a right having Kevin Durant in your team. There is completely no one like him. A living legend acting at an MVP level for our team.
Chills.
The Nets (20-12) took care of business the best way they were speculated to Wednesday, dominating an opponent that simply did not have the firepower to maintain up. After a slow begin to this season, Brooklyn is firing on all cylinders and appears to be one in every of the highest contenders within the Eastern Conference.
One other test awaits the Nets this week, as they’ll welcome the Milwaukee Bucks (22-9) to town on Friday in one other marquee matchup.
