Warriors open playo!s at 12:30 p.m. Sunday against Blazers.
He has best shooting night since return from knee injury, scoring 29 points
OAKLAND — Kevin Durant played reasonably well in his first two games back from injury but missed all nine of his 3s and expressed frustration over that lack of long-range shooting rhythm, calling it the “last piece of the puzzle” in his return to form.
In Wednesday night’s regular season finale — a meaningless 109-94 rout of the lowly Lakers — Durant discovered that final puzzle piece, nailing five of his seven 3s in an aggressive, encouraging 29-point performance four days before the playoffs begin.
“The first two games I thought he was solid,” Steve Kerr said. “Tonight he was spectacular.”
Following the Warriors’ Tuesday practice, Durant joined Stephen Curry on Curry’s usual practice court, circling the perimeter for 30-plus minutes in a competitive 3-point competition in which Durant appeared eager to sharpen his shot against the greatest to ever do it.
A day later, he immediately tested the progress. Durant pulled up for two 3s in the early minutes, canning both over overmatched, undersized rookie Brandon Ingram. A couple possessions after his second 3, Durant shook Ingram with a crossover and nailed a midrange jumper over him, plus a slap on the arm. Durant’s free throw gave him 12 early points and put the Warriors up 32-16.
“For a guy that talented, it’s only going to take so long to get the cobwebs off and the rust off,” Curry said.
Earlier this season, Durant became the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a few decades back to score 20-plus points in more than 70 consecutive games. But in his first two games back from injury, Durant failed to reach the 20-point mark either time.
It didn’t take long for him to reach that mark Wednesday. Durant hit a straightaway 3 early in the second quarter — already his fourth 3 — to give him 20 points in his first 15 minutes, putting the Warriors up 60-43. Then he nailed a long 2-pointer from the deep left corner and topped off his first half scoring burst with a powerful postup and and-1 floater.
“I feel like I can go to another level,” Durant said.
Durant had 24 in the first half and 29 total points in 27 minutes, needing only 16 shots and sitting the entire fourth quarter.
“So efficient,” Klay Thompson said. “Great rhythm. It’s a little preview of what he’s going to do in the postseason.”
Durant’s night included five 3s, the same number Curry delivered in his season finale, upping his total to 324 on the season, the second-most all-time behind only the incredible 402 he hit last season. Curry finished with 20 points and also sat the entire fourth quarter.
Thompson closed his season with a quiet 12-point performance but did hit his 268th 3 of the season, giving him the second most in the league behind Curry.
The only other interesting aspect of Wednesday night’s finale was the opportunity afforded to a few of Golden State’s younger players.
After a successful stint in the D-League, rookie Damian Jones — who has played very little in his first season — got an extended look before he takes a likely inactive seat on the bench for the entirety of the playoffs. Jones flashed his bouncy athleticism, jumping around to keep rebounds alive and dunking forcefully twice. But he also showed his youth, over-aggressively fouling a couple times and failing to get in the right defensive position a few others. Kerr scolded him during a fourth quarter timeout.
Golden State’s other rookie, Patrick McCaw, had a better performance. McCaw has received a much more prominent role this season and, with Matt Barnes doubtful for the start of Round 1 against Portland, could get some early playoff minutes.
McCaw’s season has been up and down, but Wednesday was an up. The rookie closed the first quarter by soaring in, snatching a Curry airball and dunking it before landing. Then he had a breakaway dunk and a 3 to start the second quarter. In all, he finished with 13 points in 27 minutes.
But those are all encouraging signs for another time. Everything, now, is about this upcoming postseason run, which begins on Sunday in Oracle Arena (12:30 p.m.).
One scary moment n for the Warriors came early in the third quarter when center Zaza Pachulia appeared to hurt his left knee/thigh area. After a collision, Pachulia grimaced and grabbed above his left knee, limping toward the other end of the court. Pachulia tried to indicate that he was fine to stay in the game, but the Warriors took an intentional foul and Kerr pulled him for JaVale McGee.