Both teams came out guns blazing, and it looked like this was going to be a high-scoring night on both sides. Brandon Ingram hitting middies off iverson cuts, Immanuel Quickley cashing transition threes, which would be followed by Paul George knocking down threes, and Tyrese Maxey using his absurd speed to get floaters to drop in the lane. Philly began to pull away a bit, led by Maxey.
Scottie Barnes' development has not been linear. After winning Rookie of the Year, he didn't improve much in year two. Then, in year three, he made a leap, earning his first All-Star nod. Then, last year was another step back. His efficiency was down, the team was not good, and there wasn't much consistency. He didn't look like someone coming off the best season of their career.
Durant was eligible for a maximum contract extension of $120 million over two years but understood when he chose the Rockets as a trade destination that he would be sacrificing money on a new deal -- in this case around $30 million -- so that the two sides could partner for the long term and give the franchise team-building flexibility.
