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Nets’ James Harden Left Overwhelmed and Frustrated After Kevin Durant Got Pulled Out of Their Game Against Raptors

Published 02/06/2021, 1:07 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Nobody is talking about the Brooklyn Nets’ ‘Big Three’ losing to the Toronto Raptors. Well, that’s because the entire focus shifted to some off-court drama during the game that surrounded Kevin Durant.

So far this season, the league has seen many players testing positive for COVID-19. Keeping in mind health and safety protocols, those players have to quarantine themselves until they test negative. And it looks like Durant will have to undergo a similar unfortunate situation. His teammate and Big 3 counterpart, James Harden, isn’t pleased with this diktat.

Harden doesn’t know what to feel about the Kevin Durant situation

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In light of the COVID-19 protocols, Durant was pulled out of the starting lineup a few minutes before the game against the Toronto Raptors. Notably, he had come in contact with a person whose test was inconclusive.

However, when his own report tested negative, he was given the green light to join the game towards the end of the first quarter.

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The joy of having KD back was short-lived. Just 19 minutes later, he was pulled out of the game again at the directions of the league.

The person Durant had interacted with had tested positive for the virus. The Nets superstar is known for being very vocal, and he didn’t hold back this time too. He took his frustration out on Twitter, but no matter what happened, the team suffered.

The Nets ended up losing 123-117, and Harden seems to be very disappointed.

He said, “It’s frustrating, especially when we follow the protocols, get tested every single day. So I don’t understand the whole thing where he couldn’t play and then he came on the court and then they took him back. It’s just a lot going on. It is kind of overwhelming. Especially in the midst of a tough game.”

How will this affect the Brooklyn Nets?

What is the point of bringing in some of the league’s three dominant players in a team, if they can’t even play together. Harden also stated how KD’s absence can change the fate of the Nets in the season.

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“These games are going to add up. Especially if you’re going to talk about playoff seeding. We are talking about positioning ourselves to home-court advantage and catch a rhythm. So, I don’t know. It’s so overwhelming and frustrating,” he concluded.

After struggling to make the cut last season, the Nets are finally where they want to be. They are holding the third position in the East with a 14-10 record.

But all this could change in the blink of an eye, with Durant gone for several days. Can Kyrie Irving and James Harden hold the fort until KD’s return?

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USA Today via Reuters

Read Also- Kevin Durant and Draymond Green Spat: What had Happened in 2018?

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Written by:

Yashima Bhatia

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Yashima Bhatia is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports who specialises in providing nuanced predictions and updates for matches. She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Yashima's love for playing the game came up at a young age, when the excitement of the games coupled with the intensity of the Playoffs had her hooked.
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