No surprise, but Lakers rookie Anthony Brown can’t stop Kevin Durant

Anthony Brown, you’re not alone.

The Lakers’ rookie was given the seldom-simple job of guarding Kevin Durant when Kobe Bryant sat out Saturday’s game because of a sore right shoulder.

Brown played all of 17 minutes before Saturday, sprinkled throughout five NBA games. It wasn’t stunning to see what took place.

Durant scored 14 points in the first quarter, one fewer than the Lakers. Oklahoma City won with ease, 118-78.

“When you’re playing, it’s definitely different than sitting on the bench,” said Brown, drafted 34th overall last June. “[Durant] is 7 feet and he handles like he’s 6-2.”

Brown fouled Durant only 37 seconds into the game. A few minutes later, Durant got the ball on the right side with his back to Brown, spun quickly and dunked without resistance.

Brown went to the bench when he picked up his second foul midway through the first quarter.

He shouldn’t feel too bad. Durant quickly dunked baseline on Nick Young. Then he dribbled craftily past Julius Randle and scored on a hang-in-the-air double-clutch to avoid Robert Sacre.

Durant wound up with 22 points, five under his average, in 30 minutes, making seven of 13 shots.

Brown, 23, was All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a senior at Stanford. Durant is a six-time NBA All-Star.

Brown has been the least utilized of the Lakers’ young players, falling behind Randle, Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr.

He scored five points in his NBA debut back in October and hadn’t scored since then. He had four points Saturday on two-of-nine accuracy in 27 minutes.

Lakers Coach Byron Scott criticized the team in general, saying players looked scared. He didn’t seem to be talking about Brown.

“He couldn’t make a shot, but other than that, I thought defensively he at least had an effort on that end of the floor,” Scott said.

D-Leaguers

Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black stayed in Los Angeles after playing Friday for the Lakers’ Development League team, the L.A. D-Fenders.

Kelly had 28 points and Black had 17 in the D-Fenders’ 117-107 victory over the Idaho Stampede. They will play again for the D-Fenders on Sunday against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

Twitter: Mike_Bresnahan