When an all-time great player is having an all-time great game, especially in the NBA playoffs, there’s a feeling that starts to envelop an arena as people start to realize this is a time-and-place moment.
The collective adrenaline forces perspective on the spectators — and that can include the players and coaches from both teams — and they can’t help but hold on to the memory of how they experienced it as much as the sight of seeing it happen.
Kevin Durant did that to the Barclays Center on Tuesday night in the Brooklyn Nets’ 114-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, as the Nets took an improbable 3-2 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series by overcoming significant odds and a 17-point deficit.
And we know one person who’s holding on to it.
“You know, he’s the best player in the world right now,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said after his own 34 points and 12 rebounds were relegated.
How will it be remembered? Forty-nine points in 48 minutes. The pursing of his lips as he looked skyward after his dagger 3-pointer. Or just referring to it as “Game 5.”
Talk about NBA ratings. Talk about too many games and too many injuries. Talk about too many replays or 3-pointers or too much offense all you want. The reason people are drawn to NBA basketball at the highest level is to take a small part in a game like Durant provided.
“I was able to rack up some points,” Durant said dryly. “I did play every minute, so that helped with my point total.”
That was part of Durant’s attempts to be understated afterward, partly because he knows the series isn’t over and partly because it probably just felt good to act like this was just another box score for the files.
Which, of course, isn’t true. He had 17 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Strangely, though, the enormity of the stats doesn’t quite capture it. It was much more relatable seeing him rise over and over and over to make those silky jumpers above defenders. Criticize the Bucks’ defense or Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer not assigning Antetokounmpo to him or not double-teaming him; all nine of Durant’s jumpers in the fourth quarter were heavily contested. He made six.
“What can I tell you, it’s not ideal,” Nets coach Steve Nash said of not taking Durant out of the game. “But if we didn’t play him 48, probably weren’t winning tonight. It’s a tough decision; it’s an easy decision that’s very tough to make.” Continue Reading
