BOSTON — All people mentioned Kevin Durant wouldn’t battle as badly Wednesday night time in Recreation 2 towards the Celtics as he had within the Nets’ series-opening loss Sunday.
They had been proper. He was worse.
And Kyrie Irving struggled proper alongside him within the Nets’ 114-107 loss earlier than a sellout crowd of 19,156 at TD Backyard.
The Nets led by as many as 17-points late within the second quarter however blew that, then coughed up a 13-2 run that spanned into the fourth and left them down 96-92. They by no means recovered, and now path the first-round sequence 2-0.
Durant completed with a team-high 27 factors, however shot 4-for-17 with six turnovers. Solely an 18-for-20 night time from the free-throw line made Durant’s totals look good.
Irving, after a 39-point eruption in Recreation 1, was held to simply 10 factors, on 4-for-13 taking pictures.
“They’re being bodily. They’re up and into [Durant], grabbing him, holding him, all that stuff you come to anticipate,” Nets coach Steve Nash mentioned of the Celtics’ protection. “He’s been uncomfortable and hasn’t regarded like he’s fairly been capable of get his rhythm.”
Uncomfortable is an understatement.
Within the Nets’ two losses, Durant is taking pictures simply 31.7 % (13-for-41 general). It’s the primary time in his profession he has shot below 40 % and dedicated no less than six turnovers in consecutive video games.
“They’re taking part in two or three guys on me typically after I’m off the ball, mucking up actions after I run off stuff,” Durant mentioned. “I see [Al] Horford leaving his man and coming over to hit me typically. There’s two or three guys hitting me wherever I'm going. That’s simply the character of the beast within the playoffs.”
Boston has been extra beastly thus far these playoffs.
Groups that go up 2-0 in a seven-game sequence win 92.4 % of the time (302-25).
And the Nets? They’re a winless 0-7 on the opposite finish of that equation.
Recreation 3 shall be Saturday at Barclays Heart, the place the Nets have didn't domesticate any kind of home-court benefit within the common season. That had higher change within the postseason, or it might spell a first-round exit.
“I feel our depth dropped somewhat bit within the second half. Made an enormous distinction,” Nash mentioned. “Thought they continued to be bodily.”
Mentioned Irving: “I agree partly with that evaluation with Steve when it comes to our depth. However us as gamers on the courtroom, we’ve obtained to regulate that and rise to the event. Simply easy as that.”
Bruce Brown (23 factors, eight rebounds) personally outscored his hometown staff 9-0 within the first 2:33 to present the Nets an early lead they spent a lot of the remainder of the night time making an attempt — and failing — to guard.
They pulled forward 62-45 on a working Durant pull-up with 1:45 left within the first half. However the Nets have had points closing out quarters all season, and that got here again to chunk them not as soon as, however twice, as they gave away one other recreation.
The Nets coughed up a 25-10 run that has spanned the intermission, fueled by Boston’s switching, long-armed protection. Jayson Tatum (19 factors, 10 assists) discovered Horford for a 3-pointer to make it 72-68 with 8:12 left within the third, and when Durant was stripped by Jaylen Brown (22 factors), it changed into a Tatum dunk that pulled the Celtics inside 72-70 with 7:38 to go within the quarter.
Seth Curry’s 3-pointer briefly stanched the bleeding, and Durant hit two from the road to place the Nets up 77-70 with slightly below seven minutes left. However Boston stored coming.
Durant missed a pair of free throws and Grant Williams hit two on the opposite finish to chop the Nets’ result in 79-77. And Daniel Theis’ jumper within the lane erased it altogether, pulling Boston even with 3:13 remaining within the third.
After Sensible knotted it at 81-all, the Nets mounted a 7-0 run that put them forward. Patty Mills’ 3-pointer made it 88-81 with 1:18 remaining within the third. However it didn’t final.
Even after the Nets went again up 90-83, they surrendered a 13-2 run.
Payton Pritchard’s 20-foot step again put Boston forward for the primary time, 94-92 with 7:49 to play. And after Irving misplaced the ball out of bounds, Jaylen Brown’s driving layup left the Nets in a four-point gap.
They by no means recovered.
“We do need into their air area. I feel we did that,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka mentioned of his technique towards Durant.
“We wish to make him work defensively and offensively have our bodies on him the entire time. Attempt to put on him down. It takes the trouble of everybody getting on him and figuring out the sport plan.”
Post a Comment