Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets looks to pass against RJ Barrett #9 and Jericho Sims #45 of the New York Knicks during their game at Barclays Center on November 09, 2022 in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
Kevin Durant totaled 29 points along with season highs of 12 assists and 12 rebounds as the host Brooklyn Nets never trailed and cruised to a 112-85 rout of the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
The Nets led by as many as 35 as Brooklyn improved to 3-2 under Jacque Vaughn, who had the interim tag removed from his title on Wednesday afternoon, and helped the Nets beat the Knicks for the eighth straight time.
Durant shot 10-for-19 from the floor in recording his 17th career triple-double and fifth since becoming a Net.
“I just liked how we were all on the same page,” Durant told ESPN after the win.
“I’m only as good as my teammates so them setting me up, helping me out on defense, helping me rebound – it’s a team effort helping to get me going.
Durant was also happy to have helped deliver a win for Vaughn that saw the Nets improve to 5-7.
“He’s been around this group for a while, been around this organization for a while, so he understands us,” Durant said.
“I’m happy for him. It’s a huge deal to be an NBA coach. It’s on us to play extremely hard for him, and to practice well and to prepare well.
“It’s a good first start for him.”
As well as the dismissal of Nash last week, the Nets have also been buffeted by the controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving, who was suspended by the club last week after posting a link to an anti-Semitic film on his social media.
Seth Curry added a season-best 23 points as the Nets shot 48.3 percent, hit 14 3-pointers and also beat the Knicks for the 13th time in the past 16 meetings.
Edmond Sumner contributed a season-best 18 points while starting for Kyrie Irving. Nic Claxton chipped in 12 points as the Nets grabbed a season-best 55 rebounds.
“Head Coach, first win. Congratulations!”
👏 The @BrooklynNets celebrate Jacque Vaughn’s first win as Head Coach.pic.twitter.com/bgVeNRV1w4
— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2022
Julius Randle totaled 24 points with 11 rebounds and hit four 3-pointers after knocking down eight on Monday against Minnesota. But the Knicks still lost for the fifth time in seven games.
RJ Barrett added 16 points and Jalen Brunson finished with 14, but the Knicks shot a season-low 32.2 percent, missing 31 of 43 3-point tries after hitting a season-high 19 Monday.
Durant scored 11 points as the Nets shot 60 percent and held a 38-22 lead after a dominant opening quarter. Curry scored 12 straight points early in the second to give Brooklyn its first 20-point lead and the Nets outscored the Knicks 19-7 over the final seven-plus minutes for a 69-44 lead by halftime.
Brunson’s three free throws brought the Knicks within 86-71 at the 3:03 mark of the third quarter, but Brooklyn held a 92-71 lead into the fourth.
The Nets put the game out of reach with Durant getting a break as Ben Simmons hit a layup with 9:38 remaining. Durant reached his triple-double with a rebound of a missed 3-pointer by Immanuel Quickley, then consecutive 3-pointers by Curry upped the lead to 103-73 with 6:08 remaining.