NBA Playoffs 2021: By The Numbers - Kevin Durant's Game 5 was one for the ages

Benyam Kidane

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NBA Playoffs 2021: By The Numbers - Kevin Durant's Game 5 was one for the ages image

49 points.

48 minutes.

Kevin Durant delivered a Game 5 masterpiece to put the Brooklyn Nets up 3-2 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

TAKEAWAYS: Durant's Game 5 performance puts Nets up 3-2

His 49 came on a scorching 16-of-23 from the field, 4-of-9 from the 3-point line and 13-of-16 at the free-throw line, adding 17 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks.

Just look at the shot chart! That's a whole lotta green.

#Durant Ā 

In arguably the best performance of his NBA career, let's take a closer look at some of the wild numbers from KD's Game 5:

1: A playoff first

With his monster stat line, durant became the FIRST player in NBA historyĀ to recordĀ at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.Ā Ā 

Per ESPNĀ Stats & Info, his 30 second-half points makeĀ him the first Nets player to have over 30 in a playoff half in the last 25 postseasons.

His 49 are the second-most in a triple-double game in playoff history. His former teammate Russell Westbrook recorded a 50-point triple-double Ā against the Houston Rockets in 2017, while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

TWITTER REACTION: NBA stars in awe of Durant's Game 5

48: Minutes played

With Kyrie Irving sidelined with an ankle sprain and James Harden in his first game back after a hamstring injury, the Nets needed everything from Durant and that's exactly what he gave them.

Playing every second of the game, Durant left it all on the floor, becoming the first player to play an entire playoff game sinceĀ  LeBron James in Game 7 of the 2018Ā Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.Ā 

74: Points Durant was responsible for

Durant had his fingerprints all over this game, either scoring or assisting onĀ 74 of the Nets' 114 points in Game 5 (65 percent),

He took his game to another level in the second half, helping the Nets overcome a 17-point deficit, scoring or assisting on 43 of their last 52 points, including this ridiculous triple to beat the shot clock in the final minute of the game.Ā Ā 


69.6: An all-time shooting percentage

Not only did Durant pile on the points, he didĀ so at a ridiculously efficient rate.

His 16-of-23 from the field (69.6 percent) is the third-highest field goal percentage in a 40-point triple-double in NBA playoffs history.

Only Charles Barkley (43 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists on 72.7 percent) inĀ 1993 and Jimmy Butler (40 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds on 70 percent) in 2020 rank higher,Ā  per Basketball Reference .

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Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.