‘The Defense Did Matter’: Raptors Survive Kevin Durant’s 51-Point Explosion

November 30, 2018||1 min|

Kevin Durant erupted for 51 points Thursday night in Toronto, his third consecutive game with at least 40, but it was not enough for the Warriors who fell short 131-128 in overtime.

Durant also grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out six assists, helping Golden State erase an 18-point deficit and force the extra session.

Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Raptors with 37 points, 8 rebounds and three assists.

Per the SF Chronicle:

“He can get any shot he wants, pretty much any time,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Durant. “When he’s feeling it, there’s not a whole lot a defense can do.”

After Kyle Lowry hit a three-pointer to put Toronto up six with 56 seconds left in regulation, Durant hit back-to-back threes to knot the game at 119-119 and, ultimately, send it to overtime. The Raptors didn’t create some distance until they got a three-pointer from Danny Green and two free throws from Pascal Siakam late in the extra period.

The Raptors “got a lot of defenders, a lot of athletic guys that can guard, so I had to get my sleep last night, drink a lot of water today,” Durant said. “The defense did matter, but I was able to make a couple shots.”

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