MY ACCOUNT
Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash laughed off any concerns about Kevin Durant after being ejected in the side’s 117-91 win over the Detroit Pistons only days after another undisciplined act.
Durant was ejected in the third quarter for an elbow to Kelly Olynyk, coming after he was fined $25,000 for throwing the ball into the stands during Friday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.
The 33-year-old forward was fortunate to avoid being ejected for the offence against the Pacers.
“I would say they are just two random events,” Nash told reporters when asked about Durant’s mindset. “I wouldn’t read too much into it. He’s had a laugh about both of them and held his hand up.”
On the incident, Durant admitted he was at fault for the elbow on Olynyk but defended the intent.
“I tried to run through the screen,” Durant told reporters. “That was just the result of me trying to blow the screen up. If we’re looking at the tape, it looks like I extended [raised his elbow] a little bit. I was just trying to blow the screen up, get over it, fight through, it is what it is.”
The Nets went on an 11-0 run after Durant’s ejection led by James Harden with five assists during the stretch.
Harden, who has started the season slow as he recovers after rehabbing his hamstring during the off-season, posted a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, earning praise from Nash and Durant.
“He’s improving in all areas,” Nash said. “His conditioning, his explosiveness, his confidence, his feel, his rhythm, everything is moving forward in the right direction.
“You have a nice lead but momentum can swing fast. When we lost Kevin, it was important we continued to show impetus. I thought James was great. He led us in that stretch, being aggressive, making the right decisions.”
Durant, who joked that his ejection ignited the team and crowd, added: “He understands the game and how to put people in good positions. It’s not a surprise that he can take us on a run so fast.”
Harden’s triple-double comes after scoring a season-high 29 points against the Pacers, in a sign he is getting back to his best.
“I’m just playing. The confidence and just my rhythm and all that is coming back simultaneously together. It just feels much, much better,” Harden said.
“I knew I was going to have a slow start because I wasn’t playing a lot. But I knew the work was going to catch up and ultimately I was going to get back to where I need to be. Game by game, I’m just feeling better. More confident, extra pep in my step. Just overall much better.”
