The Brooklyn Nets, seventh in the Eastern Conference and therefore forced to play in the NBA play-in, qualified for the playoffs at home on Tuesday after the resignation of the Cleveland Cavaliers (115-108). They will face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs from next Sunday.
Against Cleveland, eighth in the East, the logic was respected, but the encounter we thought was over at the end of the first quarter, Brooklyn then led by 20 points (40-20), was ultimately undecided by the Cavaliers, in the last minutes. † We had our ups and downs, but we stuck together, we were resilientnoted Kyrie Irving, the Nets point guard. We feel good, even though we know the job isn’t done yet. †
34 points for Irving, 25 for Durant
Irving had 34 points and 12 assists on Tuesday. He flew so over the debates in the first period that he was still 100% successful on shots (9/9) at halftime to let Brooklyn calmly remain in the lead (57-43).
But Cleveland is gradually coming back into the game, trailing just six points in the final quarter (88-82, 39th, then 99-93, 43rd). However, Kevin Durant, the star of the Brooklyn Nets, cooled the enthusiasm of the “Cavs” and each time scored the decisive shots that gave air to his team.
The Ohio franchise continued to fight and, taking advantage of Brooklyn’s defensive generosity, came back to within five points (109-104) at the last minute. But Durant and Irving eventually held the lead with a series of free throws. Kevin Durant finished the game with 25 points, 11 assists, three blocks and two steals. The Cavaliers were led by Darius Garland (34 points) and Evan Mobley (19 points).
Reluctance after subway attack
“Our group remained confident the whole time, said Brooklyn coach Steve Nash. We have a lot of room to improve. Not just individually, but collectively. †
Relieved to see his team in the playoffs, the crowd at Barclays Center showed a contained joy as the emotion was still palpable after the morning attack on the New York subway, where a man started the fire. opened and 23 injured. , 10 of whom were shot dead. A minute of silence was observed before the game. “It’s devastating. We pray and hope for the best for all those affected.” Kevin Durant had confided that day.
Cleveland v Atlanta or Charlotte in play-in
In the first round of the playoffs, the Nets will struggle against the Boston Celtics of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, authors of a resounding second half of the regular season (the Celtics have moved from ninth to second in four months). And in Boston, where he left no unforgettable memory, Kyrie Irving is received in an electric atmosphere.
For Cleveland, a lot remains to suspend the playoffs. The Cavaliers will have to beat the winner of the game, scheduled for Wednesday, at home on Friday between the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets, respectively ninth and tenth in the Eastern Conference. With a view to a first-round run of the playoffs against Miami Heat, the top team in the conference.
