The NBA is back. So is Kevin Durant.
It has been more than 560 days since Durant last took the court for an NBA game, but he wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring or assisting on 10 of the Brooklyn Nets‘ first 13 points in a 125-99 opening-night rout of his former team, the Golden State Warriors.
It wouldn’t get much easier for Stephen Curry & Co.
On the flip side, it has been only 71 days since the Los Angeles Lakers secured their 17th NBA championship, while the LA Clippers were humiliated in September. The Lakers are poised to repeat, and the Clippers seek redemption.
Well, the only thing the Lakers repeated on Tuesday night was a season-opening loss to the Clippers, as Paul George scored a game-high 33 points in a 116-109 win.
Our ESPN Insiders examine what matters most from the Nets’ opening-night demolition of the Warriors, including the best moments of Durant’s return and why the rest of the Eastern Conference should be very afraid right now, while also providing perspective on the Clippers spoiling ring night for the Lakers.
