By The Numbers: Kevin Durant goes off for 53 points in Nets win over Knicks

Gilbert McGregor

By The Numbers: Kevin Durant goes off for 53 points in Nets win over Knicks image

As Kevin Durant left the floor following his latest masterpiece for the Nets, "Brooklyn's Finest" by The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z blared over the speakers at Barclays Center.

They couldn't have picked a more appropriate song.

In the shorthanded Nets' 110-107 victory over the Knicks on Sunday, Durant went off for 53 points and added nine assists, six rebounds and two steals in 43 minutes of action.

As evidenced by the narrow decision, Brooklyn needed every point from its superstar, who shot 19 of 37 from the field, 4 of 13 from the 3-point line and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line to help make up for the absences of Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry, among others.

Take a look at Durant's performance by the numbers.

60

Before looking at the 53-point performance in its totality, it's important to acknowledge that Durant scored 40 points (on 15 of 29 shooting) through the first three quarters.

In doing so, Durant turned in the 60th game with 40 or more points in his career, per Justin Kubatko.

8

Durant now has eight 50-point games in his career. According to Kubatko, Durant is now tied with Bernard King for the 12th most 50-point games in NBA history.

The number eight holds even more significance as Durant's 53-point performance is his highest scoring output since the 2013-14 season, when he scored a career-high 54 points on Jan. 17, 2014.

3

Durant, who scored 51 points in a win over the Pistons on Dec. 12, became the third player with multiple 50-point games this season, the others being Jayson Tatum and LeBron James.

29.59

You know a scoring race is highly contested if it comes down to the hundredths.

Following his latest showing, Durant is now averaging 29.59 points per game, good for fourth behind Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and James. 

How close of a race is it, you ask? 0.12 points separate first and fourth following Durant's performance.

2021-22 NBA scoring leaders
  Player PPG
1 LeBron James 29.71
2 Giannis Antetokounmpo 29.68
3 Joel Embiid 29.68
4 Kevin Durant 29.59

Durant, however, has missed 26 games this season, meaning he can play in a maximum of 56 games. To qualify for the scoring title, a player must play in 70 percent of their team's games, which equates to 58.

The only way in which Durant can capture the scoring title is if his total points divided by 58 exceeds everyone else at season's end.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.