Even if the Boston Celtics were fully healthy Sunday evening against the Brooklyn Nets, they would not have stood a chance.
Boasting three of the top players of this generation, the Nets were clicking on all cylinders in Kyrie Irving’s return to Boston. After a somewhat competitive first quarter, Brooklyn put on a clinic to pretty much end the game heading into the fourth. It outscored Boston by a margin of 79-57 in the second and third quarters at TD Garden.
Once Irving nailed consecutive three-pointers to open the fourth quarter, it was all but over. The Brooklyn Nets big three of Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden had it going big-time — nearly outscoring the Celtics through three quarters.
KYRIE IS NOT MISSING pic.twitter.com/R3EOGZz0rm
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 31, 2021
If these three future first-ballot Hall of Famers continue to play at this level, there’s not another team remaining in the NBA playoffs that can even compete with the Brooklyn Nets. What we saw from the trio against a hapless and injury-plagued Boston Celtics team Sunday evening was nothing short of art. The final score of 141-126 wasn’t even indicative of how lopsided this one was.
It also didn’t help Boston that starters Robert Williams and Kemba Walker joined the injured Jaylen Brown on the bench for this one. Now down 3-1 in the series, Boston is likely looking at a premature exit from the playoffs and renewed questions heading into the summer.
KD was jawing at the Celtics bench after this jumper pic.twitter.com/Jhq3DnsogE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 31, 2021
Celtics: “Double team Harden”
— Jay Shah (@TheJayShah3) May 31, 2021
KD and Kyrie:#Nets #Celticspic.twitter.com/MkLEyGW6E4
Celtics are running double teams at Harden with KD and Kyrie on the floor
— arian (@arxanii) May 31, 2021
This is actually insane pic.twitter.com/KPpEITdXAr
Kevin Durant is the first player in Nets history with back-to-back 35-point playoff games, per @ESPNStatsInfo.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) May 31, 2021
KD, Harden, and Kyrie have 95. Celtics have 95. Tie game.
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) May 31, 2021
Is this Nets team the most unlikable team in all of sports?
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 30, 2021
Tristan Thompson just untied Kevin Durant's shoe on the sideline during that timeout lol.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 31, 2021
Nets’ shooting with eight minutes left in Game 4. Incredible: pic.twitter.com/0NL59MQvGQ
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) May 31, 2021
Kyrie getting the last laugh in Boston
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) May 31, 2021
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