This is what Brooklyn fans envisioned when the thought of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and later, Ben Simmons got together.
The thought was a team that could dominate the Eastern Conference or, at the very least, compete for the top three spots.
That hasn’t happened but the Nets could well on their way to doing just that.
Brooklyn defeated the struggling Washington Wizards, 112-100.
“I like the brand of basketball we played on both ends of the floor,” said Kevin Durant.
It was their eighth win in their last nine outings.
Durant got off to a quick 13 points in the first half but it was Irving who stole the show. Irving finished the half with 20 points that was punctuated with back-to-back moves that got the crowd off their feet.
Devon Dotson was the victim of the first move when Irving crossed him up, got fouled, and made the jumper. He finished it off by making the free throw. On the very next possession, Irving got into the lane and made a half floater, half finger roll causing Wizards head coach, Wes Unseld Jr., to call timeout.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was how offensively aggressive Ben Simmons was. The offensively challenged, oft-injured Simmons finished the game with 10 points.
All of Simmons shot attempts were in the lane, highlighted by a variety of hook shots and push shots.
Brooklyn’s bench looks stronger and stronger by the day with Mr. Bubble T.J. Warren, Seth Curry, and George Washington alum Yuta Watanabe.
Notes:
Kevin Durant 30 points 9 rebounds 6 assists
Kyrie Irving 24 points 6 rebounds 5 assists
Ben Simmons 10 points 8 rebounds 5 assists
