James Harden delivered 32 points and a triple-double in his Brooklyn debut, Kevin Durant scored a season-high 42 points in his first game back with his former teammate, and the Nets showed off their potent potential in a 122-115 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
Harden had 14 assists and 12 rebounds after being cleared to play earlier in the afternoon after all the players in the blockbuster trade that brought him from Houston had completed their physicals. Harden also had nine turnovers.
He had no practice time with the Nets and sure didn’t need it, becoming the first player in franchise history to have a triple-double in his debut.
Durant shot 16-of-26 and set a franchise record by scoring at least 25 points for the ninth straight game. He surpassed 30 points for the fifth time this season as the Nets won their third straight.
Harden shot 8 of 18 from the field, added four steals and made 13 of 15 free throws in 40 minutes. His 14 assists broke the franchise record set by Kevin Porter in 1977 for assists in his debut with the team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Kevin Durant and James Harden scored/assisted on 107 of the Nets 122 points in their first game back together.
In Harden’s first game for Brooklyn, the team shot 14-19 (3-7 3-pt) off his passes. Durant was a perfect 6-6 (1-1 3-pt) off Harden’s passes himself. pic.twitter.com/fOMdEiTyyD
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2021
Joe Harris added 17 points for the Nets, who shot 53.8% and hit 16 three-pointers in their sixth straight game without Kyrie Irving (personal reasons, health and safety protocols).
Nikola Vucevic scored a season-high 34 points for Orlando, who dropped their fifth straight but played their most competitive game of the skid.
Terrence Ross added 23 and rookie Cole Anthony contributed 16 as Orlando shot 46.3% while playing without Evan Fournier (back spasms) for the eighth straight game.
Harden hit five free throws, assisted on a layup by Landry Shamet for his 10th assist, and hit a three-pointer in the final 1:52 as the Nets held an 84-83 lead into the fourth quarter. The Nets took a 96-88 lead early in the fourth on a three-pointer by Harden but Orlando was within 100-98 on a jumper by Ross with 6:57 left.
Durant surpassed 40 points by hitting a three-pointer with 4:35 remaining to give Brooklyn a 110-104 lead. Harden picked up his triple-double when he got the rebound of a missed jumper by Anthony with 3:10 remaining, and the Nets secured the win when Durant drove the lane and passed to Bruce Brown for a corner 3-pointer with 1:37 remaining that pushed the lead to 117-107.
Harden scored his first points as a Net by hitting two free throws with 6.8 seconds left as the Nets held a 29-26 through 12 minutes. Harden added six more points as the Nets held a 52-50 lead by halftime after Orlando ended the quarter on a 7-2 spurt.