Even though Stephen Curry broke Ray Allen’s 3-PT record this week, the Golden State Warriors superstar has fallen one spot in the intense 2022 NBA MVP race. Curry still led the Warriors to get big wins this week, but he wasn’t as dominant as before and his shooting wasn’t as excellent, either.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant took his game to the next level, carrying the Brooklyn Nets to win big games, especially after the team was hit with several cases of COVID-19. This wasn’t a problem for Steve Nash and co., as KD took care of things, delivering for his team when they needed him the most.
Their current realities have affected the 2022 NBA MVP race, with the 2x NBA champion overtaking his former teammate at the top of the list, becoming the current front-runner for the coveted award. Michael C. Wright of NBA.com places KD as the favorite to win the prize after such an incredible week.
With the efficient Durant leading the way, Brooklyn now owns a record of 12-3 in clutch situations (games within five points over the last five minutes), which ranks as one of the best in the league. Durant is one of five players in Nets history to produce a 50-point game, joining Vince Carter, Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert and Stephon Marbury. Durant is the only player in Nets history to post a 50-point game and a triple-double in back-to-back outings.
KD had to go further for his team, pushing himself to the next level, recording impressive performances to confirm he’s in the best moment of his career.
Durant followed up a season’s-best 51-piece delivered piping hot on Sunday with a 34-point triple-double two days later in an overtime win against Toronto in which he played 48 minutes. Over his last four games, Durant is averaging 38 points and 8.5 assists in spearheading Brooklyn’s current four-game winning streak.
This sweet moment makes Nets fans dream about what could happen next year. They were championship favorites before the start of the season, and without Kyrie Irving on the court, Durant and James Harden needed to step up.
While The Beard is struggling to find his pace, KD has thrived and is aiming to win his second MVP award. Right now, only four players have a real shot at the prize, but Durant and Curry are the leaders in this exciting battle.
