It's only game one, but all signs point to the Nets being a contender in the Eastern Conference following their 125-99 thumping of the Warriors in the season opener on Tuesday.
There were questions about how well Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving would mesh together. If they play like they did tonight — 48 combined points on 17-of-32 shooting (53.1 percent) — it bodes well for their chemistry.
Durant, playing in his first NBA game since injuring his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, looked comfortable scoring 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting (including 7 of 7 from the free throw line) in just 25 minutes. Irving, playing in his first game since injuring his shoulder in February, had 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range in 25 minutes.
The new duo got out to a fast start and never looked back, as Irving had 17 points and Durant had 10 to push Brooklyn out to a 40-25 lead at the end of the first quarter. Irving had 24 at halftime to lead all scorers, as the Nets led 63-45 heading into the locker room.
Durant added 10 more points in the third quarter to push Brooklyn's lead to 99-71 at the end of the period. Neither Durant nor Irving played in the fourth quarter as Brooklyn finished with a 125-99 win, the first for coach Steve Nash.
Irving and Durant weren't the only ones to shine for the Nets (1-0). Caris LeVert added 20 points, nine rebounds and a team-high five assists off the bench. Jarrett Allen also came off the bench and chipped in eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Having quality players such as LeVert and Allen on the bench makes Brooklyn one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference, and helps take the load off Irving and Durant as they continue to rediscover their rhythm.
MORE: Sporting News' predictions for 2020-21 NBA season
Not much went right for Golden State. Stephen Curry led the way with 20 points, but made just 7 of 21 shots from the field, including 2 of 10 from 3-point range. If there was a bright spot, it was the play of rookie center James Wiseman, who had 19 points and six rebounds in his NBA debut. The Warriors (0-1) will look forward to the return of Draymond Green, who was out with a muscle strain in his right foot.
Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Warriors vs. Nets on Tuesday. Follow for complete results from the NBA's Opening Night to the 2020-21 season.
Warriors vs. Nets score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Score | |
| Nets | 40 | 23 | 36 | 26 | 125 |
| Warriors | 25 | 20 | 26 | 28 | 99 |
Warriors vs. Nets live updates, highlights
( All times Eastern )
9:21 p.m. — FINAL: Nets 125, Warriors 99.
9:15 p.m. — Timeout, Warriors. Nets lead 120-94 with 2:20 left to play.
9:05 p.m. — Timeout, Nets. Brooklyn leads 111-78 with 6:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. Irving, Durant and Curry are all on the bench, it's garbage time.
Not gonna out-muscle @_bigjayy_ 💪 @Honda | #BrooklynTogether pic.twitter.com/8WKcn0hFel
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 23, 2020
8:52 p.m. — END OF 3Q: Nets 99, Warriors 71. This one is all but over. Kyrie Irving has 26 points and Kevin Durant has 22 points to lead Brooklyn; Curry has 20 points to lead Golden State.
8:45 p.m. — Timeout, Nets. Brooklyn leads 95-62 with 2:54 left in the third quarter. Golden State just can't seem to get much of anything going on either end. Irving has 26 and Durant has 22 to lead the Nets. Curry has 20 to lead the Warriors.
Smooth as ever from KD. #KiaTipOff20 on TNT pic.twitter.com/RkE5yJfiPi
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
8:29 p.m. — Timeout, Warriors. Nets lead 77-49 with 8:30 left in the third quarter as a Durant dunk on the break forces the timeout. Durant is up to 16 points now.
KD ⬆️ DJ 😤 #KiaTipOff20 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/O40rKFlK2p
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
8:04 p.m. — HALF: Nets 63, Warriors 45. Irving has 24 points to lead all scorers at the break. Durant and LeVert have 12 points apiece for Brooklyn. Curry has 16 points to lead Golden State.
Kyrie was feeling it in the 1st half, pouring in 24 PTS for the @BrooklynNets ! #KiaTipOff20
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
📺: TNT pic.twitter.com/dHfzcYPfEc
Pull-up, high arc, friendly roll!
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
24 PTS for Kyrie on TNT. #KiaTipOff20 pic.twitter.com/duZ37fOIFR
7:55 p.m. — Timeout, Warriors. Brooklyn leads 56-37 with 3:18 left in the second quarter following a Curry turnover that leads to a Jeff Green dunk in transition.
Kyrie goes to work on TNT 😳 pic.twitter.com/K0RTFmA0Hu
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
7:46 p.m. — Timeout, Nets. Brooklyn leads 50-30 with 6:49 left in the second quarter. LeVert has 12 points off the bench.
Jarrett Allen protects the rim and finds the open Caris LeVert! #KiaTipOff20
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
📺: TNT pic.twitter.com/UBXaIlah7p
7:34 p.m. — END OF 1Q: Nets 40, Warriors 25. Irving has 17 points and Durant has 10 to lead Brooklyn. Curry has 9 points to lead Golden State.
Kyrie Irving (17 PTS) and Kevin Durant (10 PTS) have the Nets out to a fast start after Q1 on TNT! #KiaTipOff20 @warriors 25 @BrooklynNets 40 pic.twitter.com/dea3S1Igcb
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
7:28 p.m. — Timeout, Warriors. Ugly stretch there for Golden State: two free throws from Irving, a turnover on the ensuing inbound leads to a 3 from LeVert, then another turnover leads to an Irving pull-up 3 in transition. It's 36-17 with 2:29 left in the first quarter.
HEADS-UP HOOPS FROM @CarisLeVert AND @KyrieIrving pic.twitter.com/My1B1ssBw6
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 23, 2020
7:24 p.m. — Timeout, Nets. Kelly Oubre Jr. is giving Golden State some life with a couple of emphatic dunks to cut the deficit to 28-17 with 2:47 left in the first quarter. Irving will step to the line for two when they return, he has a game-high 12 points.
😱 KELLY OUBRE JR! 😱 #KiaTipOff20 on TNT pic.twitter.com/X68J1geIHi
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
7:14 p.m. — Timeout, Warriors. Durant is off to a hot start with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a two-handed jam down the baseline to put the Nets up 18-8 with 7:20 left in the first quarter.
KD attacks baseline and has a quick 10 PTS on TNT! #KiaTipOff20 pic.twitter.com/vSDTDEQSU0
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
Kyrie & KD get on the board for the @BrooklynNets ! #KiaTipOff20
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
📺: TNT pic.twitter.com/td4nqCs8oQ
James Wiseman slams it home for his first NBA bucket! #KiaTipOff20 #NBARooks
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2020
📺: TNT pic.twitter.com/4T0tfopbpO
7:08 p.m. — Stephen Curry scores the first points of the season. Curry gets to the line and hits a pair of free throws to go up 2-0 with 11:38 left in the first quarter.
Warriors vs. Nets start time
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: Watch TNT
Warriors vs. Nets is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 22. The game will be played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Fans will not be permitted to attend in accordance with state guidelines.
NBA schedule 2020
Tuesday, Dec. 22
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Warriors vs. Nets | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Clippers vs. Lakers | 10 p.m. | TNT |
Wednesday, Dec. 23
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Hornets vs. Cavaliers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Knicks vs. Pacers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Heat vs. Magic | 7 p.m. | — |
| Wizards vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Bucks vs. Celtics | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Pelicans vs. Raptors | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Hawks vs. Bulls | 8 p.m. | — |
| Thunder vs. Rockets | 8 p.m. | — |
| Spurs vs. Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | — |
| Pistons vs. Timberwolves | 8 p.m. | — |
| Kings vs. Nuggets | 9 p.m. | — |
| Jazz vs. Trail Blazers | 10 p.m. | — |
| Mavericks vs. Suns | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Friday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Pelicans vs. Heat | Noon | ESPN |
| Warriors vs. Bucks | 2:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Nets vs. Celtics | 5 p.m. | ABC |
| Mavericks vs. Lakers | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
| Clippers vs. Nuggets | 10:30 p.m. | ABC |