The Nets are living in a world without Kevin Durant, and in that world, they aren’t as good. It’s as expected of any team that loses its best player, especially expected when that player was the front-runner for league Most Valuable Player, but it’s the current reality for a Nets team suddenly dealt a blow to their roster.
In their first game without Durant, the title-contending Nets succumbed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-107. Only a game separates the two teams in the standings now, with the Nets third in the East and the Cavs fourth.
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 27 points but poor pass from James Harden on a pivotal possession down the stretch left Irving outstretched on the ground, while Cavs’ guard Isaac Okoro grabbed the loose ball and converted on a fastbreak dunk to give Cleveland a five-point lead. Harden finished with 22 points and 10 assists but shot just 5-of-12 from the field.
