Kevin Durant made his return after missing 23 games with a hamstring injury on Wednesday, scoring 17 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the Brooklyn Nets 139-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Durant, who came off the bench, played 19 minutes.
"I expected to come out here and play the way I played. I wasn't trying to ease into the game. I just wanted to go out there and dive right into the action. The game was fast-paced already, so watching it from the bench I knew exactly how I needed to approach it. But it was pretty cool coming off the bench, I can't lie," said Durant after the game.
Durant also added seven rebounds and five assists.
Steve Nash added that Durant should fit seamlessly back into the lineup due to his ability to make teammates better.
"It's not hard to play basketball with Kevin Durant. So I think he's going to make guys better. He demands a lot of attention and creates a lot of space on the floor. He's a shot-maker, but he creates a lot for his teammates as well whether it's through passing or just his presence," said Nash.
James Harden missed the game due to a right hamstring strain.
