Nets vs. Hawks takeaways: Kevin Durant, hot 3-point shooting help Brooklyn run away from Atlanta

The Brooklyn Nets ran away from the Atlanta Hawks within the second half on Monday evening, securing a 117-108 win. After a considerably gradual begin to the season, the Nets have now received three straight, and 4 of their final 5 video games, to enhance to 5-3. 

As per standard, it was the Kevin Durant present for the Nets. Their star ahead continued to play stellar basketball, and completed with 32 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists on 13-of-20 from the sector. Joe Harris, in the meantime, chipped in with 18 factors, and hit six of the Nets’ season-high 22 3-pointers. The Nets additionally continued to play effectively on the defensive finish, which is far improved from final season. 

An ideal instance was the best way they defended Trae Young. Although he almost recorded a triple-double — 21 factors, 9 rebounds, 10 assists — Younger had a tough evening taking pictures the ball at 6-of-22 from the sector. As deep because the Hawks are, it is powerful for any workforce to win when their greatest participant struggles in that means. One optimistic on the evening for the Hawks, nevertheless, was that De’Andre Hunter scored 26 factors and made a career-high six 3-pointers. 

Listed below are some key takeaways from the sport:

Harden not good, however continues to indicate indicators of life

James Harden’s brutal begin to the season has been effectively documented, particularly his incapacity to regulate to the league’s new rule modifications about foul calls. However in current days, Harden has began to indicate indicators of life. He put up a triple-double within the Nets’ win over the Detroit Pistons over the weekend, and had one other encouraging outing on Wednesday evening.

Harden nonetheless is not all the best way again to his outdated self. He would not have his standard burst, and missed a lot of photographs on the rim as he went 0-of-3 contained in the arc. As well as, he solely shot one free throw, and that got here when he was fouled on a 3-point shot. Different points of his recreation are coming alongside properly, although. 

Most notably, Harden’s playmaking was terrific. Whereas he is not scoring effectively inside, that hasn’t affected his potential to get into the paint and draw a crowd. From there, he is in a position to kick the ball out to open shooters. His teammates obliged in opposition to the Hawks, and he racked up 12 assists for his second straight recreation in double figures in that class. 

One other optimistic signal for Harden was his 3-point taking pictures. He went 5-of-11 from downtown, and is now as much as 46.8 p.c over his final 4 video games. That two of them got here in the course of the fourth quarter to close down the Hawks’ comeback try was solely higher. 

The Nets are going to wish Harden at his greatest in the event that they wish to win a title this season, particularly with Kyrie Irving sidelined indefinitely. He nonetheless is not there, however the previous couple of video games recommend he is on his means, which is nice information for Brooklyn. 

Nets catch fireplace from downtown

Even with out Kyrie Irving, the Nets may need essentially the most offensive expertise within the league. They have not proven as a lot to this point, nevertheless, and have needed to lean extra on their protection to get again to successful methods. James Harden’s early-season stoop has been a giant a part of the issue, and so they have been taking pictures simply 34.6 p.c from 3-point land coming into Wednesday evening.

Towards the Hawks they lastly appeared just like the workforce that completed second within the league in 3-point taking pictures final season. Joe Harris knocked down two triples within the first three minutes, and from there they have been off. They went 22-of-48 from 3, which was a season-high for makes, and the second-most 3s they’ve made since this group obtained collectively final season. 

Harris hit six to prepared the ground, whereas Harden made 5 and Patty Mills chipped in 4. Maybe essentially the most encouraging a part of their sizzling evening was that Harris lastly obtained going. He was 18-of-50 previous to this recreation, which might be an honest mark for many gamers, however is way beneath his requirements. 

The Nets will hope Harris can carry this momentum with him over the subsequent few weeks, as they’re set to start a tough street journey that can see them play six video games in 10 days. 

Hunter has profession evening

The Hawks’ run to the Jap Convention finals final season was such a shock, and got here amid a lot drama, that the very fact they have been with out De’Andre Hunter for many of the playoffs flew below the radar. Now wholesome, Hunter is on a mission to indicate everybody simply what the Hawks have been lacking. 

He actually did as a lot in opposition to the Nets, as he put collectively probably the greatest offensive video games of his profession. Coming into the sport, he was taking pictures simply 7-of-21 from 3-point land. On Wednesday evening, he set a brand new career-high by going an ideal 6-of-6 from behind the arc. 

Hunter has primarily been recognized for his work on the defensive finish early in his profession, and that figures to stay his calling card. But when he can turn out to be a extra constant 3-point shooter, that might be an enormous enhance to his worth and make the Hawks an much more harmful workforce.