Kyrie Irving to start, Kevin Durant to finish: the Nets, carried by their star duo, beat the Cavaliers in the play-off (115-108) on Tuesday, thus qualifying for the NBA play-offs where they will challenge the Celtics at the first round.
The logic was respected, but the meeting that we thought folded at the end of the first quarter, Brooklyn then leading by twenty points (40-20), was made more indecisive by the Cavs, in the last minutes.
“We had ups and downs, but we stuck together, we were resilient. We feel good, even though we know the job is not finished”commented Irving, who has long been deprived of basketball this season due to his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid.
The leader, who finished with 34 points and 12 assists, so flew over the debates in the first period that he was still 100% successful on shots (9/9, 12/15 in the end) after his basket in the buzzer, just before the break to continue to lead quietly at the break (57-43).
Then, Cleveland gradually returned to the game, six points behind the Nets, twice in the fourth quarter, thanks to Darius Garland (32 pts) and Evan Mobley (17 pts).
Under the eyes of rapper Jay-Z, Durant (25 pts, 11 assists, 3 blocks, 2 interceptions) then cooled these enthusiasms, planting the banderillas that matter. Behind the arc after the first close, then twice at mid-range after the second.
The Cavaliers, taking advantage of defensive largesse that Brooklyn will have to erase against Boston, even returned to minus five in the last minute. And this time “KD” and Kyrie, logically magnetizing their opponents, found teammates to score, before maintaining the gap on free throws themselves.
“Our group remained confident throughout. We have a lot of room to improve. Not just individually, but collectively” positive coach Steve Nash.
Cleveland still has a chance to see the playoffs
Relieved to see his team in the play-offs, the public at Barclays Center showed a contained joy, because the emotion was still palpable, after the attack that occurred in the morning in the subway not far in Brooklyn, where a man opened fire, injuring 23, including ten by bullet.
A minute of silence was observed before the match. “It’s devastating. We pray and we hope the best for all those affected, ”said Kevin Durant during the day.
In the first round, his Nets will have a hard time facing the Celtics of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, authors of a resounding second half of the regular season, as they have gone from 9th to 2nd place in four months. And in Boston, where he did not leave an unforgettable memory, Irving will be received in an electric atmosphere.
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For Cleveland, there remains a hope of hanging the play-offs. This will require winning at home on Friday against the winner of the play-off scheduled for Wednesday between Atlanta and Charlotte. With their sights set on a first-round series against Miami.
Minnesota Timberwolves return to playoffs
In the West, there was electricity in the air between Wolves and Clippers, with sometimes borderline contact, Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris excelling in their notorious ability to pick trouble. And there was even glue on the floor, where a spectator with obscure motives tried to stick her hands together, before the security service excluded her.
And it was Minnesota who had the last word, at the cost of a fiery money-time, where, trailing by ten points, he inflicted a 16-2 to take the lead, thanks to Anthony Edwards (30 pts ) and D’Angelo Russell (29 pts, 6 assists). All without Karl-Anthony Towns, out for six fouls, after going through (11 pts, 3/11 on shots). By winning 109-105 against the Clippers, the Timberwolves find the NBA payoffs for the first time since 2017. They will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
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On the LA side, which will play its joker on Friday at home against the winner of the dam between New Orleans and San Antonio, Paul George floated (34 pts, 7 rebounds), Nicolas Batum remaining discreet (7 pts, 4 rebounds, 1 against) .