Durant scored 38 points in the first half — the most he’s ever scored in a half, regular season or postseason — to power the Warriors to a 72-53 halftime lead.
It ties the second-most points scored in a half in an NBA playoff game, behind only former Warriors guard Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, who scored 39 points in a half in a 1987 playoff game. Charles Barkley also scored 38 points in a half in a 1994 postseason game.
Durant hit 12 of 17 shots from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range, along with all 10 free throws, to run up his tally.
The NBA postseason scoring record for a game is 63 points, set by Michael Jordan on April 20, 1986 in a first-round series against the Celtics. That’s well within reach the way Durant is playing.
