The dying knell could have sounded on the Nets’ disappointing season — killed by Kevin Durant’s stunning struggles and their porous protection.
The Nets misplaced, 109-103, in Sport 3 of its first-round sequence towards the Celtics earlier than 18,175 at Barclays Middle. The preseason title favorites now are only a loss away from an embarrassing first-round exit.
“It’s a sh–ty recreation. Sh–ty recreation,” a despondent Durant mentioned earlier than dropping the microphone and ending his press convention with the identical power the Nets could have ended their playoffs.
The Nets path within the sequence 3-0, and no workforce in NBA historical past has ever come again from such a deficit. Nothing the Nets have proven via the primary three video games has engendered confidence they are often the primary.
“There’s not a lot to say. We all know what it's,” Kyrie Irving mentioned. “You’ve simply acquired to take your classes, study what you may from this and simply prepare for [Game 4] Monday. There’s no time to carry your head, no time to consider what everybody else is saying: Simply go play basketball.”
Bruce Brown’s Nets-high 26 factors have been a worth the Celtics have been gladly prepared to pay to carry Durant and Irving to 16 factors every.
“In the event that they produce other guys taking pictures extra pictures and scoring extra factors, we’re in fine condition,” Boston coach Ime Udoka mentioned. “You’ve acquired to concentrate on these guys and we’re taking dangers and making different guys beat us. Credit score Bruce, he’s making some pictures, but when we’re gonna reside with one thing, that’s what we’re gonna reside with.”
Nets coach Steve Nash had Durant off the ball and dribbling much less, used extra as a screener. However he was nonetheless rendered all however invisible — just like the Nets’ possibilities. Durant shot 6-for-11 (higher than the mixed 13-for-41 within the first two video games) and had eight rebounds and eight assists, however nonetheless turned the ball over 5 instances.
“Man, we all know what it's. I don’t suppose no speech or something goes to do [anything] at this level within the 12 months. We all know what it's. We’ve acquired one other recreation on Monday. Simply come out and play,” mentioned Durant, who had one other off evening and many to rue. “Dropping. Simply not making the proper determination. There’s lots of s–t. However total simply dropping.”
A star-studded crowd that included Spike Lee, Mary J. Blige, Trevor Noah, Gleyber Torres, Aaron Choose and Questlove could have seen the Nets’ final gasp. They usually acquired drowned out on the finish by the green-and-white clad Celtics followers chanting “MVP! MVP!” for Jayson Tatum, who poured in 39 factors.
“Down 0-2, coming house that first recreation at house your spirit’s acquired to be excessive,” Blake Griffin mentioned. “We didn’t have the proper spirit all through all the recreation. Groups go on runs and it’s a recreation of runs, however we have now the firepower, we have now the expertise to face up to runs and in addition make runs ourselves. When different groups make runs we have to do a greater job of weathering it and maintain going and never let it have an effect on us.”
Nash tried a number of tweaks: utilizing Durant as an off-ball screener, sprinkling in zone and dusting off Griffin.
With the Nets trailing 75-69 with 1:27 left within the third, Nash gave Griffin his first minutes since April 2. He scored eight factors and gave the Nets a spark, however not almost sufficient.
The Nets really led 12-5 early, due to seven fast factors by Bruce Brown. However it didn’t final. They coughed up an 18-5 run — together with seven unanswered Boston factors — and by no means mounted a severe menace.
After going forward 20-19 within the first quarter on Durant’s fadeaway, the Nets surrendered a 7-0 spurt. Derrick White’s layup left them down by six.
The deficit doubled to 12 when Payton Pritchard drilled a step-back 3 to make it 37-25. The clock learn 9:05 left within the half, however the contest — and maybe season — was over.
The Nets did get inside 51-50 on Patty Mills’ kick-out 3 simply earlier than halftime, however no nearer.
It was 53-50 on the break, however three fast turnovers — two by Bruce Brown and one other by Seth Curry — sparked a 7-0 Celtics run.
When Tatum discovered Daniel Theis for a 3, the Nets trailed 60-50 with 10:35 left within the third. They by no means challenged in earnest the remainder of the way in which.
Durant agreed they confirmed a scarcity of spirit.
“You possibly can say that for positive after that loss,” Durant mentioned, with a pregnant pause. “I suppose you may say that after that loss.”
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