MY ACCOUNT
James Harden is excited by what could be as he along with team-mates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined to score 61 points in the Brooklyn Nets’ 138-112 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Harden managed a double-double of 25 points and a season-high 16 assists, while Durant scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Nets to a comfortable victory at United Center.
Kyrie Irving, who can only play on the road due to COVID-19 vaccine laws in New York, added nine points in his third game back for the Nets.
Speaking after the victory, which took the Nets to a 26-14 record for the season, Harden was asked about his on-court relationship with Durant and Irving.
“We’re that good,” Harden emphasised. “We have a chance to be that good. We just haven’t had enough of it. Last year I think we had 15 games maybe together, and this year only two.
“It felt good tonight on both ends of the ball, to be locked in on the same page and, offensively, sharing the basketball and making each other better.”
The Bulls are the first team in NBA history to win by 45+ points one day and then lose by 25+ points the next day.
Durant also faced the media after another stellar showing, having now scored at least 25 points in 12 straight games, and the 11-time NBA All-Star made clear that he is not concerned with what people on the outside think of his team.
“We’re trying to make no statements to the league,” Durant said. “I mean, who cares what they think? We know what we bring to the table, and it’s all about us. But I’m sure people were watching the game tonight.”
Meanwhile, the Bulls became the first team in NBA history to win by 45+ points one day and then lose by 25+ the next, having beaten the Detroit Pistons 133-87 on Tuesday.
Coach Billy Donovan praised his team for a run that has seen them reach a 27-12 record so far, acknowledging that they were second best on the day, particularly in the third quarter when the Nets scored more than twice the number of points managed by the Bulls (39-19).
“I think you own it,” Donovan said. “I think our guys have worked hard up to this point to be where we are in the standings, and with that there’s a greater responsibility.”
