Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving collaborated for a historic performance, making the Nets an insurmountable force on the floor against the Hawks.
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the short-handed Atlanta Hawks 108-107 on Wednesday night, led by Kyrie Irving’s 28 points (15 of which came in the fourth quarter) and Kevin Durant’s 26 points and season-high 16 rebounds.
The Nets’ current victory run is the longest in the NBA so far this season, and the longest for the franchise since they won 10 straight games in 2005-06. The 2002-03 squad also had a 10-game winning streak. The franchise has never had more than 14 wins in a season before or after 2003-04 and 2005-06.
The Brooklyn Nets (23-12) have won 14 straight games.
“For me specifically, when the fourth quarter hits, it’s winning time,” Irving stated. “That’s all I really know. When I’m out there with that group to start the fourth, I know K.D. is resting a little bit, so I just have to raise my aggression level and raise my efficiency up, and I’m grateful to have the trust of my teammates and coaching staff.”
In the waning seconds of the third, Yuta Watanabe’s layup gave Brooklyn its first lead since the 33-32 score. With a pair of free throws as time expired in the third, Durant put the Nets up for good. During the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, Irving scored eight straight points to put Brooklyn up 93-82, capping a 17-3 run that forced a timeout from the Hawks.
“I think the whole second half we were there for each other,” Durant stated. “We made a couple of adjustments on a couple of guys and we were able to execute that. We were able to slow them down just a little bit.”
The magnificent duo (Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving) helped Brooklyn Nets to snatch the victory over the Hawks. They took their team to another level that night.
