As the clock wound down in the third quarter Thursday night, Kevin Durant pumped his chest and unleashed a roar.
The NBA’s newest “villain” had just sliced through the key for tomahawk slam. During that moment, a sellout crowd raining down applause, Durant helped exorcise the memory of four months of backlash.
In powering the Warriors to a 122-96 rout over the Thunder, he made one thing certain for his chorus of critics: A new jersey hasn’t quelled his dominance. Durant’s workhorse performance — 39 points, on 15-of-24 shooting, and seven rebounds — amplified the struggles of his former superstar running mate.