Finally, Big 3 nears its reunion

The Nets, despite having been the NBA’s best team for most of the past two months, still haven’t been at their best. But with the expected returns of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving over the next week, they’ll finally get to build toward the “scary hours” that James Harden warned the rest of the league about.

“That’s all it’s about, is guys getting comfortable, guys figuring each other out. And we’re going to have to have that mindset of trying to work through things, especially when Ky gets back,” Harden said. “Hopefully he’s back this week, and Kevin as well.

“It’s going to be that same mindset of figuring out, get things going, because I think we have 25 or 26 games left, so the postseason is coming up really soon. The quicker we can get guys healthy and on the floor we can figure it out. We can watch film and learn on the fly because there’s really no practice time, the better off we’ll be. We expect to get those guys back this week and we can’t wait.”

To be specific, the Nets (31-15) have 26 games left heading into Monday’s home game against the Timberwolves. But what makes the record more impressive — and the Nets even more hopeful — is that it largely has been crafted without Durant and Irving.

Though there is little more than a month-and-a-half left in the regular season, the Nets’ Big Three have had just 186 minutes and seven starts together. The sample size is small, but the record (6-1) promising. And the victories they’ve managed while shorthanded have buoyed the Nets’ confidence that they’ll get far better.

“Definitely. I think we’ve proven that we can win without Kevin. We’ve proven that we can win without Kevin and Ky at times,” coach Steve Nash said.

Since Feb. 10, the Nets are an NBA-best 17-3.

➤ Landry Shamet’s ankle injury isn’t serious, and a source told The Post he could be set to make his return.

“Potentially,” said Nash. “We don’t really have a date yet, but he’s improving and we’ll evaluate him when we get back to Brooklyn, but definitely moving in the right direction and not a longterm thing.”