In the playoffs, when the intensity is soaring and the intensity is close, you can probably count on one finger the number of superstars who can really control the game at crucial moments. However, regarded as the sharpest offensive weapon in the NBA (perhaps not one of them), Kevin Durant is definitely one of the rare ones, and his influence in the playoffs has even surpassed that of "the best player in the world" LeBron James.
Further reading:Death-level striker boots! 2021 Kevin Durant’s latest Nike basketball shoe recommendation list
Because he is a skilled player and can always make cold-blooded hits on the court, instantly destroying the opponent's hope of winning, the "Slim Reaper" title has spread like wildfire. Whether you love him or hate him, there's no denying that Durant is definitely the guy that opponents don't want to see at the end of a game. As his age and skills increase, he becomes more and more often on the top stage, ruthlessly taking away the vitality of his opponents...
Table of Contents
48 points in a desperate battle + tying key ammo extension, exhaustion of energy
- season: 2020-21 Playoffs R2G7
- result:Bucks 113-111 Nets
- data:48 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
In a desperate battle in G7, both sides fell into a completely scorched earth battle, with low shooting percentages. Kevin Durant scored 48 points on the Nets' side, while the Greek monster scored 40 points on the Bucks' side. KD scored 20 points in the first half and 28 points in the second half, helping the Nets take a 5-point lead with 4 minutes left. However, the Bucks immediately woke up from the outside and Jrue Holiday scored two three-pointers. A wave of 13-4 offensive led the way.
Further reading:A superstar is born! Giannis Antetokounmpo's playoff peak record/classic battle
The Nets were still two points behind in the last 6 seconds. After holding the ball, Durant turned over and hit a jumper with PJ Tucker close behind. Unfortunately, he stepped slightly off the line and only extended the game.
Both sides were even more tired in the overtime, and almost all shots were short. Until the last minute, Antetokounmpo succeeded in a single hook shot by Durant, and then Middleton turned around and hit a two-point lead. KD was almost in the same position as in the regular season and wanted to tie again, but this time outside the basket Hollow, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship, leaving only regrets for KD.
KD also scored 48 points in a single game, the highest score in a tiebreaker in league history.
After playing the whole game, Du Hong scored 49 points and three triples
- season: 2020-21 Playoffs R2G5
- result:Nets 114-108 Bucks
- data:49 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 16-23 FG, 48 minutes played
After two years of playing in the playoffs, the Nets' Big Three first injured James Harden, then Kyrie Irving was injured again in Game 4 of the second round against the Bucks, and the series was evened.
Seeing that the overall situation was not good for the Nets, they were still 16 points behind in the first half. Harden, who made a forced comeback, was not in good condition. KD jumped out and transformed into the god of death, Du, and started to kill everyone in the second half and scored 31 points, including being knocked down in 50.5 seconds of the fourth quarter. In the right situation, he made a key three-pointer to open up the four-point difference, and won the game with one hand.
Kevin Durant suffered a severe Achilles tendon rupture in the 2019 championship game. He was reimbursed for the entire last season and focused on injury recovery and rehabilitation. He spent most of the regular season recuperating from his injury. This game burned the universe and played for 48 minutes without rest. In fact, It's an astonishing achievement. KD's 49 points is also the second-highest score by a junior in playoff history, second only to Russell Westbrook's 51 points in 2017.
Riding alone to defeat three rocks
- season: 2011-12 Western Conference Championship G4
- result:Spurs 103-109 Thunder
- data:36 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block
In the same year's Western Conference Championship Game, Durant encountered the Holy City experiment. The three young and energetic MVPs met the old black shirts and immediately lost two games on the road; however, returning to their familiar home court, the Thunder immediately regained a victory with a 20-point deficit. In the crucial fourth game, Durant seemed determined to advance to the championship and surpass the man who would always have his name in front of him.
In the last seven minutes of the game, he scored 18 of the 36 points in the game, completely denying the Spurs any chance to get ahead, and crushed the Spurs' Big Three (as well as the then-rookie Kawhi Leonard), fully demonstrating the coercion of the three-time scoring champion, the Thunder also boosted their morale due to this game, and then successfully went to the Shengcheng Stadium, and set a record of losing two games in the series, and then making crazy comebacks in four consecutive games. A rare miracle.
Deadly dagger unsheathed
- season: 2016-17 Championship G3
- result:Warriors 118-113 Cavaliers
- data:31 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Kevin Durant was stable and outstanding during the Thunder; however, after joining the Warriors, he even took it to the next level! After most of the season and Stephen Curry After the run-in, the playoffs became a showcase of the two's achievements. The Warriors did not encounter many obstacles along the way, except for Kawhi Leonard who caused a little trouble in the first game of the Western Conference Championship. The Warriors' first threat appeared in G3 of the championship game.
The Cavaliers, who had been defeated in the first two games, returned to the city and their performance was completely different. They were evenly matched with the Warriors throughout the game, and even led by two points in less than a minute in the last minute: Unexpectedly, Durant, who had already scored 9 points in the quarter, was already red-eyed. , grabbed the rebound, pushed it to the top of the arc, and pulled it up without any hesitation: everything seemed as natural as fate, and the ball followed the correct trajectory and passed through the basket 26 feet away! The Warriors regained the lead they had not held for a while, and finally, after Durant's two solid free throws, the Warriors also accepted the victory.
In that year's championship game, KD averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. This kind of almost crazy top star data, in the end, it was no surprise that he won the championship game FMVP. Durant also led the Warriors to a 4-1 victory, avenging his defeat five years ago; while basketball fans other than Warriors fans began to fall into a "dark period" with no hope of winning the championship...
Death comes again
- season: 2017-18 Championship G3
- result:Warriors 110-102 Cavaliers
- data:43 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
"What he did tonight was incredible. I don't think there's anyone on this planet who could hit the shot like he did. He was so exaggerated."
— Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors
Do you believe in fate? If you don’t believe it, look at this last goal, maybe you will start to hesitate...
The same scene, the same position, the same god of death comes to the door, and the Cavaliers are completely unable to parry it - after all, this is a curse sent by a seven-foot basketball player from 32 feet away. How do you defend it? After experiencing JR's epic judgment error in the first game, Durant made up for it with this shot, which completely shattered the championship hopes of Cleveland fans. The Warriors won G3 and accepted the fourth game quite simply.
Oh, by the way, KD scored 43 points in this game, including this three-point bomb, with 13 rebounds and 7 assists, and once again won the championship game MVP. Now whatever data he turns over, we wouldn't be too surprised, right?
YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
- season: 2018-19 playoff first round G6
- result:Warriors 129-110 Speedboat
- data:50 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
"Just like sometimes, you will meet some very special people. No matter what message you convey, there is nothing you can do about him. There is really nothing you can do about such a strange person. He is this special He's a guy, and he showed tonight that he can carry the whole team on his shoulders just by himself."
— Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers guard
Do you dare to fool Death or even anger him? If this was the only way your team could win, would you be willing to try it?
Patrick Beverley did try, and in the first two games, the effect was unexpectedly good. Kevin Durant was limited by Skybay's stalking and trash-talking offensive. He only averaged 22 points in the first two games. He even stepped into a trap in the first game and was kicked out by the referee along with Beverley; The number of shots dropped sharply, and Beverley even suffered a lot of fouls. Driven by the latter, the speedboat performedEpic 31-point comeback.
But Death doesn't like to be fooled. After the second game, Kevin Durant only said lightly about the issue with Beverley:
"I am Kevin Durant. You know who I am. Y'all know who I am. "
Then, the Hall of Fame superstar scored 38, 33, 45, and 50 in the next four games - especially in G5, he had already scored 45 points. The Clippers were able to mobilize everyone and steal the second game at Oracle Arena. Victory, this game also ignited KD's fighting spirit. In the next game, he scored a career-high 50 points with a shooting percentage of 57.7%, and finally defeated the Clippers with a tenacious will to win.
After the series, even Beverley had to admit that Durant was the most difficult man to defend in the world. This was the painful price he paid for offending the Divine Power...
Fight the Black Mamba Snake
- season：2011-12 Second round of playoffs G4
- result:Thunder 103-100 Lakers
- data:31 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Kevin Durant's first playoff experience came in 2010. At that time, the Thunder, which had 50 wins and 32 losses in the regular season, was only the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They met the defending Lakers in the first round and went home in six games. (The Lakers finally completed their second consecutive championship) A gentleman's revenge is never too late in two years. Two years later, the Thunder met the Purple and Gold Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. The more mature Durant, coupled with the already established Russell Westbrook, also had the best sixth man on the bench. James Harden, five games brought an end to the Lakers' prosperous era.
The most critical part of the series is the fourth game. The Zijin Army narrowly won by three points at their home court in the previous game. As long as the game is equalized, the series will return to the starting point. The Lakers were in the lead for most of the game, and even held a 13-point advantage in the fourth quarter. However, at this time, Durantula jumped out and started fighting the Black Mamba, and Westbrook scored and tied the game. In the last 33 seconds, KD's death instinct aroused. He first copied Pau Gasol's pass, and then directly scored a fatal three-pointer from 26 feet away, sealing the throat with a knife and deciding the fate of this series.
Be
⭐More superstar playoff peak moments:
- War Machine Kawhi Leonard’s top 5 playoff moments
- Unknown giant? Draymond Green’s top 5 playoff moments
- Superstar stage! James Harden’s top 5 playoff moments
- The almighty beast is coming! Nikola Jokic’s top 5 playoff moments
- Epic shooter Stephen Curry’s Top 5 peak moments in the playoffs
- The savior rides alone! Damian Lillard’s top 5 playoff moments
