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The Golden State Warriors were no match for the Brooklyn Nets who were buoyed by the presence of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant among their ranks. Despite a whopping 13 turnovers in the first half from the Eastern Conference outfit, they dominated the game from the opening tip and blew out the Warriors 125-99.
Both Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets featured nearly full-strength rosters with the former missing Draymond Green due to injury. The occasion also marked the playing debut of James Wiseman and the regular season coaching debut of Steve Nash. It also marked the return of KD in a competitive setting.
On that note, let us look at five talking points from the first game of the 2020-21 NBA season.
#5 The Brooklyn Nets showcase their depth
The Brooklyn Nets are among several teams over the luxury tax threshold this season but at least with them, it's a case of money well spent. They looked seriously good even outside the dynamic duo of Kyrie and KD.
Caris LeVert was sharp with his distance shooting and accounted for 20 points. He's set to be the Nets' impact player off the bench. Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie also combined for 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors.
#5 Golden State Warriors' suspect shooting
The shooting accuracy was visibly amiss for the Golden State Warriors in the preseason and it's nowhere close to being rectified right now. The Dubs shot 37.4% from the field and did not exhibit any scoring rhythm throughout the game.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins had a night to forget in particular, with the duo going a combined 7-of-30 for the game. Stephen Curry had 20 points but he also shot the ball at a mere 33% clip.
The Golden State Warriors' offense didn't test the Brooklyn Nets' defense in general. There wasn't enough ball movement, the screening game was amiss, and there was rarely a player cutting to the rim.
Also read: Golden State Warriors 99-125 Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant's return sends NBA Twitter into a frenzy
#3 Steve Nash proves the doubters wrong for now
Steve Nash's appointment as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets was met with immense skepticism. This was his first-ever gig as a coach and not many believed he could handle the likes of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Yet in the first game, the two-time MVP got his two superstars to play unselfish basketball.
The ball movement from the Brooklyn Nets was incredibly fluid. Besides the odd possession where Kyrie took on the Golden State Warriors defense single-handedly, the ball always managed to find a way to the open man. As a result, the Nets managed 40 points in the first quarter of the game, their highest ever total in a season opener.
#2 James Wiseman impresses on debut
James Wiseman was the only starter for the Golden State Warriors who shot the ball efficiently, managing 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Having said that, it was fairly evident that this was Wiseman's first competitive game in over a year.
He made the usual rookie mistakes such as trying to force the issue himself and holding on to the ball far too long at times. Having said that, the confidence was there to see. He wasn't afraid of using his strength and athleticism to get to the basket.
Wiseman also displayed a chiseled-out shooting motion while attempting jumpers further away from the basket. The future is bright for the Golden State Warriors rookie. Expect him to keep improving from here onwards.
#1 Kevin Durant impresses on return game but Kyrie Irving steals the show
The world waited with bated breath for the official return of Kevin Durant and he did not disappoint. KD pulled out the crossovers and flushes in transition to wow the viewers. He even dished out a few quality dimes as he ended the night with 22 points, three assists, and three steals.
However, it was Kyrie Irving who really stole the show. Irving displayed his slick handles to toy with the Golden State Warriors and even managed a rake in a deep three-pointer to close the first half. He finished the game with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting and had a plus-minus rating of 32.
Also read: Golden State Warriors 99-125 Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant's return sends NBA Twitter into a frenzy
