Kevin Durant went off Sunday in the Golden State Warriors' 118-92 win. With the dub, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead over the New Orleans Pelicans. Durant was a big reason for it—he racked up 38 points on 15-for-27 shooting and seemed in control from start to finish, elevating over smaller defenders to get seemingly any shot he wanted.
His explosion could perhaps be partially attributed to a "long-ass text message" he received from teammate Draymond Green after the Warriors dropped Game 3. Green had trouble sleeping after the loss, he told ESPN. So he used the downtime to text K.D.
"I just challenged him to be who he is. I had to tell him," Green said, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes. "I didn't see him attacking or being aggressive enough on both ends of the floor like we need him to be. You know, I don't hold back. When I see something's wrong, I have to voice my opinion. There were no hard feelings. We're just trying to win a ballgame."
Durant didn't reply until he woke up, but his response was affirmative: "I got you," he told Green.
"In short, [Green] said don't worry about shit else but playing with force and being aggressive," Durant recalled. "And I tried to do that as much as possible today. I wasn't aggressive in Game 3, and I knew that. It's good to know that teammates got your back. It was good to hear that from him."
Green also had a solid Game 4. He racked up eight points, nine assists, and nine rebounds.
"What we saw from him today, that's what we need," Green said of Durant after Game 4. "He was engaged and scoring all over the place. He was changing the game. That's the impact he has when he's playing aggressive out there for us. That's what I love seeing."
In his post-game press conference, Green also responded thoughtfully to one Twitter user saying he wanted Green to get shot.
Draymond Green on Twitter user writing that he hoped Warriors forward would get shot after Game 4 win over Pelicans: "I feel bad for him. It's sad that someone would take this that serious... Making death threats, talking about life. I just pray he gets the help that he needs." pic.twitter.com/ON67p1qAEz
The Warriors will aim to close out Anthony Davis and the Pelicans when they square off for Game 5 at Oracle Arena Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
