Kilpatrick finds mentor, friend in Durant

Golden State’s comeback 117-101 win in Brooklyn wasn’t just as clash between the NBA’s best team against one of its worst. It was a reunion of unlikely friends in Kevin Durant and Sean Kilpatrick, the four-time scoring champ and the former D-Leaguer he’s taken under his sizeable 7-foot-4 ¾ wings.

“I love Sean. That’s my guy. I just want to see him do well. I’m not here to tell him what to do. I’m just here to be somebody he can lean on when he needs to talk or vent to. That’s how we became close,’’ Durant said. “I want nothing but the best for him. His journey is remarkable. A lot of people can learn from it. Those types of people I really enjoy getting to know.”

They became close through Brooklyn assistant Adam Harrington, who’d been Durant’s shooting coach with the Thunder in 2014-15. Harrington introduced them and they’ve been fast friends ever since.

“I’m close with Kevin,’’ Kilpatrick said. “Adam [Harrington], he introduced me and Kevin together, and ever since then we’ve been texting every day. It’s something that’s really actually good, because when you have an all-star like that who’s behind you and in your corner, it’s something that’s actually great.

“With him, basically he watches every game that we play. The fact that he can text me and have that type of feedback to give to me after games is something that’s actually a pretty exciting thing for me and my career. When you have someone like that behind you, that’s really sitting there coaching you from afar, it’s actually pretty good.”

Jeremy Lin had 10 points, 11 assists and eight boards in his first home start since Nov. 2 when he strained his hamstring and missed five weeks. Isaiah Whitehead, who started 14 consecutive games at one point, missed his second straight with a sore left foot.

Brook Lopez’ 23 firsthalf points were a Nets season high for points in a first half, and the most by any player in a first half versus Golden State.

The Nets play Friday in Cleveland. The only other team to face the Warriors and Cavaliers back-to-back is Toronto.