Kevin Durant Drops Season-Best 51 Points Against Detroit
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant played an NBA-best scoring performance for this season in a win against the Detroit Pistons.
Kevin Durant scored 51 points in the 116-104 victory on Sunday. Stephen Curry is the only other player to drop 50 or more points this year, with 50 on November 8.
It was the first time Kevin Durant had a 50 point game for the Nets, and the eighth time in his career.
His big night included five 3 pointers, 9 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. He leads the NBA in scoring over 25 games so far this year with 29.4 points per game.
Want $250 to bet on the NBA?
It was the ideal time for Durant to play the best game of the season, as James Harden was unavailable. However, Durant says he didn’t feel any extra responsibility in Harden’s absence.
“I feel like we got enough scoring,” Durant said. “I feel like defensively we come out and stick to the game plan, play physical, then the offense will take care of itself. We went cold there for a second, so I figured that I should be more aggressive.”
“Kevin was incredible,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “Not an easy night. They played extremely hard. Tons of energy. We were playing different lineups. Think there were different guys out there at different times trying to find the spacing and spots and where to be, and so there were some challenges there for us. For him to be able to score 51 and 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and steal. Unbelievable.”
Read: Steve Kerr To Replace Gregg Popovich As Team USA Head Coach
“It was very special,” Nets point guard Patty Mills said. “Obviously, special for him, but I think it’s special for everyone that was able to take part in that and be up close and personal to what happened tonight.”
