If anyone needed a reminder about the caliber of player Kevin Durant is, he showed it yet again in the Golden State Warriors’ 101-87 triumph on the road against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Dubs were missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Patrick “Future Hall-of-Famer” McCaw.
His triple-double (which has somehow evolved into the greatest accomplishment someone can do in a game, according to Twitter) filled the box score: 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on 13-for-28 shooting from the field (3-for-10 from beyond the arc).
There was a sequence early in the first quarter wherein Durant held the ball at the top of the arc and stared, motionless. Nobody moved on offense as the clock ticked down, the very definition of stagnation. Abruptly, Coach Steve Kerr calling a timeout. That seemed to put some pep in Durant’s step and he went nuclear for the rest of the quarter.
9-0 run by @KDTrey5 pic.twitter.com/51KYwcWITn
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 7, 2017
Kevin Durant's 16 first-quarter points are the most he's scored in a single quarter this season (previous high: 15 in the third quarter on 11/2 at San Antonio).
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) December 7, 2017
Even a Cinderella moment where KD lost his shoe in the second half couldn’t slow him down.
KD loses a shoe again, maybe he should tie his shoes tighter pic.twitter.com/ISRvHXNHrw
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 7, 2017
Watch him direct traffic like Draymond Green-lite!
Even without Steph, the splash is still alive pic.twitter.com/oTaFT2mqaK
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 7, 2017
And of course, the jump shot is #wet.
KD too smooth pic.twitter.com/3co4rK5SLg
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 7, 2017
I know many members of Dub Nation are fretting about the possible extended absence of Stephen Curry, and the lingering injuries to Draymond Green. Still, let’s not forget that we have a multiple-time scoring champion and former MVP who can get busy for us in KD.
Poll
Who’s your pick for tonight’s Warrior Wonder?
This poll is closed
-
18%
Kevin Durant
-
1%
Zaza Pachulia
-
50%
Quinn Cook
-
8%
Klay Thompson
-
1%
David West
-
7%
Jordan Bell
-
0%
Kevon Looney
-
2%
Omri Casspi
-
1%
JaVale McGee
-
2%
Shaun Livingston
-
1%
Patrick McCaw
-
4%
Nick Young