Kevin Durant was the same scorning machine Saturday night in the Warriors' 134-117 loss to the Brooklyn Nets in his return to the Bay Area that Golden State always has known him to be.
He dropped 20 points with ease, scoring every which way possible. Chase Center was just another stroll in the park for the star forward. Except for when one former undrafted free agent guarded him.
Juan Toscano-Anderson continues to grow into the ultimate underrated do-it-all wing for the Warriors. Durant scored just four points when guarded by Toscano-Anderson and committed three turnovers in just over three minutes.
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Toscano-Anderson scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds in 25 minutes of action. He was minus-14 in plus-minus but clearly that doesn't tell the whole story.
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Golden State Warriors
As James Wiseman and Kevon Looney continue to rehab injuries, Toscano-Anderson has stepped into Steve Kerr's starting lineup. Since becoming a starter, he has averaged 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He also is 4.5 in plus-minus in that six-game span.
Just like the rest of the Warriors on Saturday night, Toscano-Anderson was far from perfect. But his ability to shut down Durant at times is another example of how valuable he is to this team.