NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets secured the No. 2 seed within the Jap Convention with pizazz on Sunday evening, finishing one of the spectacular performs of the workforce’s season throughout their 123-109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Within the last seconds of the primary half, Blake Griffin intercepted Cedi Osman’s off-kilter try to avoid wasting the ball from bouncing out of bounds. Griffin fed the ball up-court to Kyrie Irving with a spinning, behind-the-back proper handed go. Irving then hurled the ball to Mike James, who was simply contained in the 3-point line.
James laid the ball up off the backboard for Kevin Durant to slam it down in a Harlem Globe Trotter-like end that introduced the restricted capability crowd in Barclay’s Heart to its ft, cleared the Nets bench in pleasure and even earned a smile from referee Marat Kogut.
“It felt prefer it was laid on a platter for us,” Durant mentioned. “It occurred so quick — I don’t assume we pressured something. And people are normally the very best performs, when it simply organically occurs. I’m excited to be aside of it.”
James was relieved that Durant accomplished the play.
“I used to be a little bit nervous,” James mentioned, smiling. “If it could have been unhealthy, I believe my Nets’ profession would have been over.”
Afterward, Griffin joked that he was the maestro of the entire ordeal.
“Hear, I don’t wish to pat myself on the again,” Griffin mentioned, grinning. “However I did get that factor began. I used to be yelling at all people to take off. I handed it to Kyrie, after which I used to be yelling at Kyrie to go it to Mike and I instructed Mike to throw it off the backboard. Kevin simply dunked it. I didn’t inform him something. I don’t wish to take credit score for it. These guys did it. I used to be simply sort of orchestrating from behind.”
Steve Nash mentioned that from his vantage level on the sidelines, he was left questioning: “‘We predict we cute now?’”
The Nets went on to beat the Cavs of their last recreation of the season on Sunday. They pulled out the win with out James Harden, who sat out to relaxation his hamstring on the second evening of back-to-back video games. The victory solidifies that the Milwaukee Bucks could have the No. 3 seed within the playoffs and face off towards the Miami Warmth within the first spherical, whereas the Nets will face the winner of the Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards of their play-in matchup.
Sunday’s recreation marked the third time that Durant has performed in each video games of a back-to-back this season. He completed with 23 factors, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Kyrie Irving had 17 factors, six rebounds and two assists. James added 14 factors, 4 rebounds and 6 assists off the bench.
Irving shot 8-of-10 from the sphere on Sunday, 1-of-2 from 3-point vary and was an ideal 6-of-6 on the free throw line. His efficiency solidified Irving’s place within the “50/40/90” membership — reserved for gamers who shoot 50 p.c or extra from the sphere, 40 p.c or higher from 3-point vary and 90-plus p.c on free throws.
Irving shot 50.6 p.c from the sphere this season, 40.2 p.c from three and 90.2 p.c from the free throw line. He joins Larry Fowl, Stephen Curry and Durant as the one gamers to common no less than 25 factors per recreation throughout a 50-40-90 season
“Phenomenal season from Ky,” Durant mentioned. “He’s a man who can get it from anyplace on the ground at any time at that dimension is outstanding. Level guards that get 50/40/90 is simply a lot extra spectacular to me. I’m very completely satisfied for Kyrie, and I’m certain this gained’t be his final time.”
Irving didn’t converse to reporters after the sport.
The Nets have been additionally with out Joe Harris, who was identified with a left gluteal pressure. After the sport, Nash mentioned whereas he anticipated Harden to be accessible to observe with the workforce on Tuesday, Harris might miss just a few practices this week.
“There’s a case the place he might not observe the entire week, however that’s okay,” Nash mentioned. “He’s performed lots of minutes this 12 months and we would like him to heal up as finest he probably can and sort of not should chase this factor by way of the playoffs and have it linger. I’d reasonably he resolves it than observe this week.”
With Harden unavailable on Sunday, the Nets completed the common season with their “Large Three” taking part in simply eight video games collectively. No workforce’s three main scorers have performed fewer than ten video games collectively and have gone on to win a championship.
The 2000-01 Lakers main scorers of Derrick Fischer, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal performed simply ten video games collectively they usually gained the title — however that they had additionally performed collectively in prior seasons. Durant mentioned that he isn’t involved concerning the lack of time he has had with Harden and Irving to construct chemistry.
“I believe we’re the ‘Large 15,” Durant mentioned. “So, yeah; we’ll be alright.”
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