Durant looking lethal after return from lengthy layoff
OAKLAND, California — Kevin Durant doesn’t look like a player who just returned from a 19-game absence because of a knee injury.
More like a superstar ready to carry his team through a special postseason run.
“Yeah, I’ll say. KD looked great tonight,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Wednesday’s 109-94 triumph over the LA Lakers.
“The first two games I thought he was solid. Tonight I thought he was spectacular with his shooting.”
Durant had 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his final tuneup for the playoffs.
Stephen Curry added 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds for the top-seeded Warriors (67-15), poised for what they’re counting on being another deep run.
“We’re chasing something, we’re not protecting anything this year,” Curry said.
Klay Thompson scored 12 points as Kerr rested Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green.
Jordan Clarkson led all five Lakers starters in double figures with 17 points.
A day after a fierce and fun 3-point shootout following practice, Durant said before the game he hoped to have found his shooting touch — then went out and shot 11 for 16 and made 5 of 7 3s, while Curry also hit five from deep.
“For a guy that talented, it’s only going to take so long to knock off the cobwebs and the rust,” Curry said.
After the game, as streamers fell, Curry took the microphone and thanked the sellout crowd for “all your support” and asked fans to continue to bring the same energy to the postseason.
Golden State was shorthanded with 11 available bodies — mostly big men — prompting Kerr to say before the game: “It will be a weird night for sure.”
Patrick McCaw added 13 points and JaVale McGee 11 off the bench for the Warriors, who wrapped up the league’s best record and the No 1 seed in the Western Conference with a win last week at Phoenix.
The Warriors are the first franchise in NBA history to win at least 67 games in three straight seasons.
Two-time reigning MVP Curry finished the season with 324 3-pointers, the second-highest total in league history and the most ever in a single season behind his record 402 last season.
Kerr had a reason for resting Green aside from fatigue.
“What I’ve found with Draymond, if the game is meaningless, then so is Draymond,” Kerr chuckled.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Draymond needs some stakes, he needs the competition, he needs the game to be meaningful.”
Praise for Luke
The Lakers finished 26-56 in coach Luke Walton’s first season, and Kerr praised his former top assistant for how he handled all the challenges.
They still talk every few weeks and trade text messages regularly. They had lunch on Wednesday.
“It’s been very trying for him,” Kerr said. “Losing is difficult on everybody in this league. Luke’s such a competitor, I know it’s tough, but I’m happy for them that they are finishing the season the way they are. Luke’s in it for the long haul.”