Getting Kevin Durant Healthy Is Brooklyn Nets’ No. 1 Priority Heading Into Second Half Of 2020-21 Season

James Harden’s return to Houston was a rousing success. 

So was the first half of the season for the Brooklyn Nets. 

The Nets headed into the All-Star on a high note thanks to their 132-114 blowout victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night at Toyota Center. Harden overcame some early miscues to post his latest triple-double — 29 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds (with eight turnovers). 

The Beard’s motivation in this game was obvious, and everything went according to plan. Meanwhile, Houston elected to retire No. 13 and then suffered consecutive loss No. 13.  The Rockets have seen better days. Next up for Harden and teammate Kyrie Irving: Sunday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. Kevin Durant will pick the East team as its captain, but won’t play due to a hamstring injury. 

Getting Durant healthy is Brooklyn’s No. 1 priority. The Nets have managed a 24-13 record despite him playing just 19 games due to injuries, rest, and health and safety protocols. Brooklyn’s Big Three has also started just six games together. 

Durant last played on Feb. 13, when he made his return to the Bay Area. The Nets are 8-1 since then — with Harden leading the charge. And their success has made it a lot easier for both No. 7 and his fans to be patient. Brooklyn eventually needs its franchise 7-foot star, but it has gotten along just fine without him.

Hamstrings are a tricky injury. The Nets originally called it a “mild” strain that would cause Durant to miss at least two games. He’ll end up missing at least nine games, pending where he is physically after the break. In any case, the goal is to have Durant, Irving and Harden all healthy and on the court together for Game 1 of the playoffs and beyond. It’s frustrating they haven’t been able to build on-court chemistry, yet the trio understands the big picture. The Nets are banking on Durant, Irving and Harden being able to overcome the team’s defensive shortcomings by being unstoppable offensively in the postseason. 

It was Durant’s health and MVP level of play (29 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists) following his Achilles injury that led Brooklyn’s front office and ownership to want to push all their chips in the middle for Harden. And Harden (25.5 points, 11.4 assists, 8.7 rebounds) has taken over that MVP level of play in Durant’s absence. 

The second half will be about fine-tuning both offensively and defensively, and supplementing the roster. Getting Jeff Green (shoulder) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (hip) back from their own injuries will be key, though Nic Claxton has certainly stepped up in his recent opportunity — as has Bruce Brown. Granted, some of those valuable role players will likely lose playing time once Durant comes back. Still, they need to remain ready and productive. 

Sean Marks will add pieces. 

Maybe a center. Maybe a defensive wing. Maybe a shooter. 

But none of them will be nearly as significant as adding a healthy Kevin Durant.