NEW YORK – The stars of Kevin Nant and James Harden in Brooklyn Nets are screaming at an impressive pace – and the history books support it.
On Monday night, they became the first duo to score 30 plus points in each of their first two games with a franchise score when the Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 125-123. Durant had 30 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, while Harden gave 34 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists.
That came on the heels on Saturday of Harden’s triple-double double-point performance of 30 points against the visiting Orlando Magic in his Nets debut, a game in which Durant scored 42.
Since Harden’s arrival in Brooklyn, the Nets’ coaches and management have repeatedly said they will rely on the previous chemistry Harden and Durant built during their tenure at the Oklahoma City Thunder. After all, Harden has not had a single workout with Brooklyn yet.
Harden said their maturity further boosted their synergy on the ground.
“We were young in Oklahoma City,” said Harden, 31, who played on the Thunder with Durant, 32, from 2009 to 2012. “We are adults now. We know what we want. We really know the game of basketball now. We are not those young guys who want to run around and just want to shoot and dunk all day. And then I sit back and I know which player Kevin Durant “He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball.”
Harden and Durant combined for 138 points in their first two games together in Brooklyn, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information research. This is the second most common point for teammates in their first two games, along with a franchise in NBA history, after Wilt Chamberlain and York Larese had in 1961 151 with the Philadelphia Warriors. Chamberlain scored 139 of the 151 points, with Larese scoring 0. in their first game together and 12 in their second game.
Durant said he is not surprised at how quickly he and Harden join the track.
“We’ve been through a lot in this league,” Durant said. ‘We experienced a lot, and for us to put it together now and combine what we learned in this time and try to play good basketball, it was pretty seamless for me.
‘It was an easy transition, especially since James handled the ball a lot. So we are still trying to find our way, and we still have room to improve, but it’s a good start. ‘
And on Tuesday, the Nets are expected to add another ingredient to the mix as Kyrie Irving goes into practice for the first time in more than two weeks.