Saturday’s game seven between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets will go down as one of the best playoff games in quite some time. This showdown should have brought back memories for the Golden State Warriors.
The Nets, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 40 points, scraped home 115-111 in an overtime thriller to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
As I watched the latter stages of the game, I couldn’t help but take my mind back to another classic playoff game, game one of the 2018 Finals between the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kevin Durant’s heroic performance in Brooklyn should have brought back memories for fans of the Golden State Warriors.
On that night, Kevin Durant was part of a formidable Warriors team on their way to their second straight championship. Although the Warriors were undeniable favorites, the Cavaliers looked like taking game one late in the fourth quarter.
In a virtuoso performance, LeBron James was unstoppable for the Cavaliers, dropping 51 points on 19-for-32 from the floor. However, the game is perhaps best known for a George Hill missed free throw and a JR Smith brain fade that cost the Cavaliers a win at the end of regulation. The Warriors took the momentum and outscored the Cavaliers 17-7 in overtime to win 124-114.
Fast-forward over three years and the shoe was on the other foot for Durant. After the additions of James Harden and Blake Griffin, the Nets mirrored the superteam the Warriors had between 2016-2019.
But with Kyrie Irving out with an ankle injury, and James Harden clearly hampered by a hamstring injury, Durant had to mimic James’ performance from the 2018 Finals.
He was incredible, dropping 48 points including 13 of the Nets’ last 18 and a tough jump shot with one second on the clock to force overtime. But unfortunately for Durant, his efforts were in vein much like James’ were.
Whatever Warriors fans may now think of Durant, you can’t help but respect his sheer brilliance on the floor. His return this season will no doubt be a beacon of hope for Warriors fans hoping Klay Thompson can successfully return from his Achilles injury next season.