James Harden made his Nets debut Saturday, and made it a triumphant one.
Brooklyn didn’t get to unveil its Big Three, with Kyrie Irving still out. But Harden and Kevin Durant proved enough to lead the Nets to a 122-115 win over the Orlando Magic.
After Harden – known for overdribbling and isolation basketball in Houston – talked about sharing and playmaking, he put his game where his mouth was. Though still unfamiliar with his Nets teammates and their likes and tendencies, he played the role of facilitator, and gladly took a scoring backseat to Durant.
Harden had 32 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds – the first player in NBA history with a 30-point triple-double in their debut with a team.
Durant poured in a game-high 42 points on 5-of-8 from deep. His 307 points this season are second-most ever through 10 games with a new team (behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 371).