Making up: Any real or perceived smoke between Kevin Durant and the Warriors has been extinguished.

Any real or perceived smoke between Kevin Durant and the Warriors has clearly been extinguished.

The Warriors said all of the right things, created a tribute video and accepted pats on the rear as Durant rode through the Bay Area and led Brooklyn’s 134117 victory Saturday night in his first game at Chase Center.

It was an odd return for Durant, who spent three winhappy, but lifesad years with the Warriors.

The comeback game wasn’t immediate, having taken 20 months since a ruptured Achilles in his finale with the Warriors. The comeback game wasn’t where Durant plied his trade, having been played in

San Francisco after he helped the franchise to three NBA Finals during a stretch from 2017 to ’19 in Oakland.

There were zero fans in attendance, so there was very little reaction when the Warriors showed the video tribute during a timeout midway through the first quarter.

With the combustible memories of verbally jarring with media, oncourt altercations with teammates and ignoring franchise executives having already lessened since Durant chose to bounce from the Warriors to the Nets in the summer of 2019, there wasn’t actually a lot of emotion.

Warriors forward Draymond Green, a vociferous man of fire and brimstone, offered only: “It was cool.”

When the Warriors showed the tribute video midway through the first quarter, Durant looked up at the big screen a couple of times during the timeout. On his way back to the court, he offered a thumbs up toward Warriors staff as they offered a standing ovation.

“I think about those moments daily,” Durant said. “Every single moment that I’ve had in this league, I think about it, analyze it and try to get better from it. My time here, in Golden State, was so much fun. It was such a learning experience.”

Durant, fresh off missing a week in the league’s health and safety protocol, wasn’t great on this night. He scored 20 points, as he could do in his sleep, but it took him 8of19 shooting from the floor and 1of6 3point shooting.

He also had five rebounds, six assists, and a lot of help. Kyrie Irving scored a teamhigh 23 points, and James Harden had 19 points, 16 assists, eight rebounds, three steals and helped the Nets outscore the Warriors by 28 points during his time on the floor.

“It was cool,” Durant said, maybe in a comment similar to what he expected from Green. “We came out and played a great game.”

Before the opening tip, Durant hugged Green, who usually saves his pregame salutations to pointing at no one in particular on the opposing bench and then dapping up teammate Stephen Curry. Durant also spent extended postgame time with Warriors director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini, before hugging the remaining pieces of the dynasty. Among those, Durant squeezed Klay Thompson, who is out with a similar Achilles injury.

Midway through the third quarter, Durant stepped back to hit a 20footer right next to the Warriors’ bench. He turned and stared at the coaches and reserves.

As Durant retreated on defense, Thompson raised his hand and said: “I was the one talking.”

Durant said he talks to Thompson a couple times per week.

He’s followed his progress to walking and getting out of his protective boot.

“I can’t wait to see him back out there,” Durant said.