The Brooklyn Nets have qualified for the first round of the play-offs and will meet the Boston Celtics there. The Minnesota Timberwolves have also qualified.
Brooklyn Nets challenge the Celtics around Daniel Theis in the first round. The favoured team around Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-108 in the so-called play-in of the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night. After leading by 22 points at one point in the third quarter, the encounter became tense again in the final minutes when the Cavaliers came within five points, but the Nets prevailed in front of their own fans at the Barclays Center.
Irving had a strong night, hitting his first 12 shots of the game and finishing with 34 points, three rebounds and 12 assists. “There were ups and downs, we stayed together and showed resilience,” Irving said of the Nets’ season, which started as title favourites. But Irving was not allowed to play for large parts of the season because of his lack of a Corona vaccination, and Durant was also injured. James Harden, with whom both were supposed to form a superstar trio, surprisingly went to the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of the transfer window. “It feels good, but we know the job’s not done yet,” Irving said.
The Cavaliers have one more chance to make the playoffs. The team must win against the winner of the Atlanta Hawks’ clash with the Charlotte Hornets on Friday (local time) to do so. The Miami Heat then await in the first round of the playoffs.
“Tragic morning”: pre-game shooting in subway
Nets players and coaches had earlier expressed dismay over an incident involving gunfire and multiple injuries on a New York underground. “It’s obviously a very tragic morning. We’re devastated for the community and those directly involved,” Nets coach Steve Nash said Tuesday, according to the New York Post. The club had been preparing for its game against the Cavaliers just a few blocks away at its practice facility at the time.
A man opened fire on a Manhattan-bound train during the morning rush hour, according to local police. “I don’t know a lot of details, but when you hear the sirens outside the practice facility and you see how much commotion there is outside, you hope and pray for the best for everybody involved,” Nets player Kevin Durant said, according to the New York Post.
Timberwolves beat Clippers to face Memphis
The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, won their qualifying duel with the Los Angeles Clippers and are also in the first round of the play-offs. In a thrilling game, the hosts regained the lead themselves with less than five minutes to go on Tuesday night (local time) and defended it until the final siren at 109-104. The Timberwolves will now face the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-offs. The Clippers have one more chance. They will play the winner of the New Orleans Pelicans versus the San Antonio Spurs on Friday for the last remaining play-off ticket in the Western Conference.
The Timberwolves also absorbed a poor night from Karl-Anthony Towns in front of their own fans, hitting just three of his 11 throws and being ruled out of the game early on with too many fouls. Antony Edwards with 30 points and D’Angelo Russell with 29 carried their team. “This is a special group,” Russell said. “Our group is very resilient. That’s something special. “