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Squandering a 14-point lead due to careless play and sloppy turnovers, the Warriors found themselves trailing late in the fourth quarter to the Detroit Pistons. But in those closing moments, Kevin Durant tried valiantly to help the Warriors, as they had done against the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards earlier this week, steal another victory in the game’s final minutes with an impressive stretch of basketball. Though the effort came up short an the Warriors lost the game, Durant’s domination in the game’s later stages was quite impressive and showed that killer instinct or closer mentality he brings to the Warriors.
Now, don’t think that Durant’s contributions were limited to the just fourth. Two of his 28 points came on this thunderous dunk late in the second quarter.
.@KDTrey5 in full flight✈️ (NBCSBA) pic.twitter.com/czv0X3QDYt
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 30, 2017
But it was still a relatively quiet first half for Durant, totally only 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists while Stephen Curry (20 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds) and Klay Thompson (13 points) did more to give the Warriors their five-point halftime lead. Durant had another quiet quarter in the third, scoring only four more points to bring his total up to 15. Meanwhile, the Pistons continued to climb back into the game, holding the lead by a single point as the game moved into the fourth quarter.
Durant re-entered the game with the Warriors down by seven points and nine minutes left to play in the ballgame. The Pistons continued to push and extended their lead to thirteen points before Durant started his offensive assault. Durant drained two 3-pointers in a span of 30 seconds, which cut the lead to single digits. If the Warriors were going to pull out this victory, it would probably be because Durant came in and saved the day, especially on offense.
KD 9-of-11 tonight, just drilled two big 3s. He may (and probably should) jack for the next few minutes.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 30, 2017
Durant’s strong closing stretch continued as seven-foot Andre Drummond got switched onto him. Durant took full advantage, embarrassing the UConn product as he drove by him to score at the basket.
Oh my KD! (NBCSBA) pic.twitter.com/JDxR4ETpMC
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 30, 2017
Durant affected the game in other ways besides scoring, grabbing an defensive rebound on a missed shot by Drummond and then assisting on a Thompson 3-pointer to cut the Pistons lead to four. Durant would then get to the line on an Avery Bradley foul, making two free throws to cut the Pistons lead to just two.
Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Warriors would get as a combination of Warriors misses and turnovers (25 in total for the game) would seal the 115-107 victory for the Pistons.
Durant would finish the game with those 28 points (13 coming in the fourth quarter) along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and only 3 turnovers (all other starters had 4 or more). It was a game the Warriors almost certainly did not deserve to win, given their sloppy play and occasionally lethargic demeanor, but Durant did his best to get the victory in the game’s closing minutes.
Poll
Who was your Warriors Wonder against the Pistons?
This poll is closed
-
67%
Kevin Durant
(325 votes) -
1%
Draymond Green
(6 votes) -
1%
Zaza Pachulia
(9 votes) -
4%
Klay Thompson
(21 votes) -
10%
Stephen Curry
(51 votes) -
3%
JaVale McGee
(15 votes) -
0%
Andre Iguodala
(2 votes) -
0%
Shaun Livingston
(1 vote) -
0%
David West
(3 votes) -
1%
Nick Young
(8 votes) -
4%
Omri Casspi
(24 votes) -
3%
Patrick McCaw
(17 votes)