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Kevin Durant Says Nets Played With 'F--ked Up Attitude' in Loss to Clippers
January 2, 2022
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant blasted his team's "f--ked up attitude" after Saturday's 120-116 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
"We just relaxed too much," Durant told reporters. "We get up 10, miss a layup or turn the ball over, and they get a fast break, give up a three, straight-line drive—like coach [Steve Nash] said, we didn't deserve to win this game. We came in here with a f--ked-up attitude. Thinking we were just going to walk into a W."
The Nets allowed the Clippers to score 40 fourth-quarter points as part of a comeback win after Brooklyn led by as many as 13 points. Eric Bledsoe led the way with 27 points, as the Clippers were playing with Paul George, Nicolas Batum and Kawhi Leonard out because of injuries and Luke Kennard and Ivica Zubac in health and safety protocols. Marcus Morris Sr. was also out for rest.
Durant finished with 28 points and nine rebounds, and James Harden had a triple-double, but Brooklyn showed lackadaisical effort defensively. Six Clippers finished in double figures, and the team got contributions from several players who are on hardship contracts.
"It's natural when a team is missing so many players," Durant said. "They're going through so much over there. [We] relaxed. You don't think you could lose an NBA game like this. They're missing how many guys? They're playing guys that are up from the G League. Xavier Moon came in and hit some shots for them. Keon Johnson, James Ennis—they all made an impact I felt on the game, and I think we came in too chill to start."
The Nets have dropped two straight games and now trail the Chicago Bulls by a game for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
