NBA

Kevin Durant puts Nets on his back for legendary win over Bucks

The Nets got James Harden back. They got an all-time historic performance from Kevin Durant.

And they got a victory that just might have saved their season.

With their title hopes on life support, the Nets pulled out a 114-108 come-from-behind win over Milwaukee in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night.

Durant had 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists — the first player in NBA playoff history with at least 45 points, 15 boards and 10 dimes in one game. He put the Nets on his shoulders with a dominant triple-double that had the sellout crowd of 16,067 at Barclays Center chanting, “M-V-P! M-V-P!”

It wasn’t hyperbole, after he poured in 20 points in a fourth quarter that saw the Nets outscore the Bucks 33-21. They fought back from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to take a 3-2 series lead into Thursday’s Game 6 in Milwaukee.

“He made big-time plays for us at the end of the game and he’s the reason we won,” Jeff Green said. “He put us on his back and he carried us throughout the whole game. So that’s what he’s been doing and that’s the Kevin I know.

“The injuries that he’s been through, to come back — even from the Achilles to the hamstring to get back in this position — the world is seeing once again who the best player in the world is and it’s amazing to see.”

Kevin Durant leads Nets to a big victory in Game 5.
Kevin Durant leads Nets to a big victory in Game 5. Corey Sipkin

Green scored 27 points on 8 of 11 shooting, 7 of 8 from deep. And with Kyrie Irving injured, Harden shook off a tight hamstring he’d suffered just 43 seconds into the series opener. He wasn’t himself — but he was good enough to hand out eight assists, snatch six boards and give his team an emotional boost with his return.

“It’s the playoffs. And my team needed me. Simple,” shrugged Harden, who appears to have every intention of playing Game 6. “I feel great. We won, so that’s all that matters. At this point, it’s by any means necessary. As long as there’s a ‘W’ in that column and we keep racking up wins, that’s all that matters.”

The won this one with Harden — who hadn’t played since June 5 — logging a staggering 46 minutes. Durant? He never came off the floor.

“I went to [Steve Nash] and [Jacque] Vaughn and just asked them if I needed to come out or if they were going to take me out,” Durant said. “I said, ‘If y’all don’t need to, I’m cool. I think I can kind of tough it out from here.’ ”

Durant did just that, lifting Brooklyn to victory.

“Oh, man, just historic, historic performance,” Steve Nash said. “I mean, it’s ridiculous what he’s able to do.

“We know he’s capable of nights like this. But to do it [now], we lose Ky, James obviously is going through his ailments, we’re down bodies, we’re wounded. For him to have the toughness, that mentality, that’s what makes him one of the all-time greats. That’s a signature performance for Kevin and it was beautiful to watch.”

Kevin Durant leads Nets to a big victory in Game 5.
Kevin Durant leads Nets to a big victory in Game 5. Corey Sipkin

Make that the greatest player in the world today, according to both Green and Giannis Antetokounmpo (34 points).

The Nets found themselves down 12-2 with 8:49 left in the first quarter on free throws by Khris Middleton (25 points), opening the night 1 of 9 with a couple of turnovers.

Just 15 seconds into the second quarter, the Nets found themselves already down 32-15 on a Middleton 3, and no one other than Durant or Green even scored until Joe Harris finally got a 3 to drop with 8:55 left in the half.

But after shooting just 20 percent in the first quarter and 50 percent in the second, they got hot and hit 66.7 percent in the third.

Trailing 71-54 on a Jrue Holiday 3, the Nets closed on an extended 27-16 run to cut the deficit to six. And after Durant scored 11 in third, he dominated the fourth.

Down eight early in the fourth, Durant had a dozen points and two assists in an 18-7 run. He hit Landry Shamet for a layup to put the Nets ahead 99-96.

With it knotted at 104-all, it was fittingly Harden that untied it. His free throws gave the Nets a lead they never surrendered.