The Brooklyn Nets overcame an uneven performance to defeat the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series over the weekend. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 32 points while Celtics star Jayson Tatum struggled through a 6-of-20 shooting performance in that game.
With Boston almost in must-win mode in Brooklyn for Game 2 Tuesday evening, things did not go swimmingly for Brad Stevens’ squad.
The Brooklyn Nets opened up a 71-47 lead at the half and continued to pour it on before opting to rest their starters in the fourth quarter. Once the final 12 minutes came calling, Steve Nash’s team was up by 27 points.
Durant was once again the high scorer in this one with 26 points while Joe Harris chipped in 25 points. That’s absolutely considering the Nets’ big three of Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. It’s also a scary thing for opposing Eastern Conference teams in the NBA playoffs.
As for the Celtics, they are now down 2-0 in the series after a ho-hum 36-36 regular season. Further embarrassments such as the one we saw Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets could very well lead to Stevens being on the hot seat. Either way, fans and those around the basketball community had their takes relating to the Nets’ blowout X-point win over Boston.
BLAKE DUNKED ON EVERYONE. (via @BrooklynNets) pic.twitter.com/Mi4YrB694q
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 26, 2021
The Nets are just toying with the Celtics @BS_NewYork
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 26, 2021
pic.twitter.com/lvBFGLQYkG
The Celtics: “Trying to deal with KD, Kyrie, and Harden”
— Jay Shah (@TheJayShah3) May 26, 2021
Joe Harris: “On fire”
The Celtics: #Celtics #Nets pic.twitter.com/BM74ZzyzDS
The Nets weren’t joking when they had the Celtics G-league logo as the logo for the Celtics in the Nets app lol pic.twitter.com/W5bRJkTWfj
— The nØrwegian Beard (@1886BKNETS) May 26, 2021
Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker really ruined the net at Barclays pic.twitter.com/i3MkUpZHYa
— (@MikeAdxx) May 26, 2021
It's showtime at Barclays Center. Harden is trying to break all the ankles. Griffin is trying to break the rim. The Nets have broken the Celtics' spirit. There's nothing they can do about this. It's an onslaught.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) May 26, 2021
Nets 94, Celtics 61
You always feel terrible for teams that suffer injuries late in the season & can’t be at full strength in the playoffs. This is the time when you need your best to beat the best. Being shorthanded & scrappy is cute & all, but we all know this usually winds up being a mercy kill
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) May 26, 2021
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