NEW YORK – Kevin Durant returned from a 23-game absence to spark Brooklyn's most explosive half of the season, finishing with 17 points and perfect shooting in the Nets' 139-111 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Durant came off the bench with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter and by the time the period ended the Nets had 79 points and a 20-point halftime lead.
Brooklyn was a sizzling 14 for 18 (78%) in its 43-point quarter. Durant went 5 for 5 and added seven rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes in his return from a strained left hamstring.
He was originally listed in the starting lineup, but was removed in a revised lineup distributed minutes before his first game since Feb.