For Game 5, the Brooklyn Nets hosted the Boston Celtics at the Barclays Center.
With three wins in the seven-game series, the Nets looked to wrap up the game against the Celtics on Tuesday.
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden delivered an outstanding performance for the Nets.
THE NETS OVERCOME THE CELTICS 123-109 TO ADVANCE TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS.
All three members of the big trio scored 20 or more points in the victory.
James Harden even recorded his 11th triple-double, becoming the first Nets player in playoff history to do so.
Furthermore, the Nets’ big three are averaging a combined 85.2 points in the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum, on the other hand, led the Celtics in their loss to the Nets.
The Nets got off to a fast start against the Celtics and kept it up throughout the game.
In the first quarter, the Nets took the lead.
To begin the first quarter, Jayson Tatum made a layup, and James Harden responded with a layup of his own.
Tristan Thompson then drove to the basket and made a layup.
The Celtics responded with four points, completing a 6-0 run to make the score 8-2 with 9:32 minutes remaining in the quarter.
On the next possession, James Harden made a layup and a bucket.
On the other end, Marcus Smart missed a three-pointer, allowing Kyrie Irving to dunk on Harden’s long pass.
With 7:41 remaining in the quarter, the Nets tied the game.
Evan Fournier followed with a three-pointer, and Joe Harris responded with a jumper.
About halfway through the quarter, Romeo Langford hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 12-12.
Irving made a layup, and Jayson Tatum responded with a three-pointer.
Thompson stopped Harris at the rim. On the next possession, however, Durant responded with a jump shot.
As a result, with 3:14 minutes remaining in the quarter, they tied again at 19-19.
With a fadeaway jumper, Tatum took the lead.
Tyler Johnson responded with a three-pointer.
Durant stopped Aaron Nesmith and scored in transition off Harden’s pass.
Irving then added a reverse layup for a 7-point lead with less than a minute remaining.
Grant Williams drew a foul after scoring on an offensive rebound.
Irving responded with a three-pointer.
As a result, the Nets led 31-24 at the end of the quarter.
The Nets extended their lead in the second quarter.
To begin the second quarter, Nicolas Claxton dunked on Harris’ pass.
Jabari Parker responded with a hook shot before adding another bucket, a layup.
On the next possession, Landry Shamet hit a three-pointer and dunk off Harden’s pass.
As a result, the Nets led the Celtics by eight points, 38-30, with 8:47 remaining in the third quarter.
Payton Pritchard followed with a three-pointer.
Langford then blocked Claxton at the rim, and Parker followed with a three-pointer.
Harden responded with a three-pointer. On Pritchard’s pass, Langford hit a jumper.
Harris responded with a three-pointer. On the next possession, Parker made a jump shot.
The score was 42-46 halfway through the quarter, with the Nets leading by four points.
Durant hit a three-pointer, and Harden drove straight to the basket for a bucket and a dunk.
Fournier responded by knocking down a jumper. Smart then added another bucket with a three-pointer.
Irving hit a three-pointer, extending the four-point lead to seven points with 2:36 left in the quarter.
Tatum responded with a layup on the other end.
Irving drove to the basket and sank a layup.
Smart attempted a three-point shot, but Durant blocked it.
The quarter ended 51-59, with the Nets leading by eight points.
In the third quarter, the Nets reclaimed the lead.
Langford opened the third quarter with a three-pointer.
Two minutes into the quarter, they were 54-61, with the Nets leading.
Harden then drew a foul and made a jump shot to take a 10-point lead.
On Harris’s pass, Blake Griffin dunked.
Fournier immediately responded with a hook shot.
Irving’s lob to Griffing for a dunk gave the Nets another two points.
On the next possession, Durant hit a three-pointer.
The Nets took the lead at 65-75 halfway through the third quarter.
Tatum made a three-pointer over Griffin.
Irving responded by sinking a hook shot.
Tatum followed with a floater, and Langford followed with a three-pointer.
Durant beat Langford with a long jumper. Tatum responded by hitting a long jumper at the buzzer.
The quarter ended with the Nets leading 77-86.
The Nets completely outplayed the Celtics and won the game.
Harden started the fourth quarter by scoring with a three-pointer.
Smart was blocked from behind at the rim by Claxton.
After Thompson kept the ball alive, Fournier tipped off Claxton’s missed shot.
Claxton slammed a two-handed dunk off a Harris pass. Tatum responded by sinking a three-pointer.
With 8:01 left in the quarter, they led 86-97.
Fournier then drew a foul and made a layup.
Durant made a three-point shot. Bruce Brown Jr. then stole the ball and passed it to Irving.
Irving added another basket, this time a three-pointer.
Harden responded with a three-pointer after Fournier made a reverse layup.
Smart then made a layup halfway through the quarter.
Durant connected on a long jumper.
They were 96-114 when Harden hit a three-pointer and the Nets took an 18-point lead with 3:59 left in the game.
Durant hit a three-pointer, and Joe Harris also hit a three-pointer.
The Nets defeated the Celtics 109-123 at the end of the quarter.
The Nets’ big three put on a show.
The Nets won thanks to 20-point performances from Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.
James Harden led the Nets with a triple-double of 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, as well as two steals and two blocks.
He is now the second Nets player with a playoff triple-double and the first Nets player in playoff history with a 30-point triple-double.
Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
“We just don’t want to waste any of this time,” Irving said after the game. “Three of the best scorers to ever play the game on one team doesn’t happen very often in our culture, in our history.”
Kevin Durant finished with 24 points, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds.
He is now the active player in the playoffs with the most points per game (minimum 25 games played).
As a result, the Nets’ big three have now combined for 85.2 points this playoff.
Joe Harris finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists in addition to the trio.
While Bruce Brown Jr. led the Nets bench with ten points, five rebounds, and three assists.
The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum.
Jayson Tatum, on the other hand, led the Celtics with 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
“It’s not how we envisioned this season going, but it’s a learning experience that myself and everyone else can take with us for the rest of our careers,” said Jayson Tatum. This can teach us a lot.”
“Jayson kept making plays.” We did not do enough as a group. But he proved himself this year,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
Evan Fournier finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
“It’s an A-plus organization.” “They were excited to get me, and they showed me a lot of love,” Evan Fournier says of the Celtics.
Romeo Langford came in second with 17 points, a rebound, and two assists.
Marcus Smart led the way with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Jabari Parker led the Celtics bench with 13 points and three rebounds.
With the victory, the Nets advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they will face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kevin mentioned facing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Durant said. “I mean, he’s a two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, so we’re excited about the challenge.”
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