Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Tuesday night provided a little more clarity in the NBA playoff picture. After a few play-in games in each conference, two seats were taken and there are only two more seats up for grabs.
The Brooklyn Nets claimed the No. 7 seed in the East by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-108. The Nets meet the Boston Celtics in the first round. Over to the west, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 to secure seventh place and start a first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
KD and Kyrie were UNSTOPPABLE tonight 🔥
KD: 25 PTS | 11 AST | 5 REB
Kyrie: 34 PTS | 12 AST | 12-15 FG pic.twitter.com/DC5ZFpkPx3
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
TWO WIN THE PLAY-IN
PAT BEV’S REACTION TO HIS FORMER TEAM’S WIN 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/s55sYTcJLL
The Cavaliers and Clippers await the winners of Wednesday’s play-in games to determine the No. 8 in each conference.
Here’s a look at the updated playoff bracket.
east conference
(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) TBD
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
(4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
Eastern play-in game
No. 9 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 10 Charlotte Hornets (winner advances to face No. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers for 8th seed)
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) TBD
(2) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves
(3) Golden State Warriors vs. (6) Denver Nuggets
(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Western play-in game
No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 10 San Antonio Spurs (winner advances to meet No. 8 Los Angeles Clippers for eighth place)
The Nets needed their two superstars to live up to their reputation, and they did just that. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were the engines behind Brooklyn’s offense, averaging 59 points and 23 assists for the win.
Irving was perfect on his first 11 shots en route to a 34-point night of 12-of-15 shooting. Durant scored nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to end the game.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Kyrie. unreal
He’s 9/9 at the end of the first half pic.twitter.com/JYrBJt7VxW
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
KD responds to the Cavs run 😤
Guided tour back to double digits in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/YpW9e3ovPK
Bruce Brown also had a strong game for Brooklyn with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The Nets also collectively scored 29 points from their central position, with Andre Drummond (16 points) and Nic Claxton (13 points) providing some strong energy from within.
The Nets had to fend off a late Cavaliers run after taking a 22 lead in the third quarter. Brooklyn’s supporting cast must continue to play at a high level behind Durant and Irving if they hope to have a chance against the Celtics.
As for the Timberwolves, they weathered a terrible performance from star center Karl-Anthony Towns. After being suppressed all game, Towns fouled with more than seven minutes remaining and finished with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and four turnovers.
Anthony Edwards dropped 30 points and D’Angelo Russell added 29 to make up for Towns’ underperformance. The two made a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, which saw the Timberwolves finish the game on a 26-11 run.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
D-LO FOR THE LEAD 😤
THE TARGET CENTER ROCKS pic.twitter.com/tDRPEmnGhq
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
ANTHONY. Edward. 😱 pic.twitter.com/nZUAjco9kA
Patrick Beverley also displayed outstanding tenacity on defense throughout the game. During his comeback, he wowed the home crowd with his energy and commitment. The game meant a little extra for him after spending the last four years with the Clippers before they traded him this offseason.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
PAT BEV WITH THE Claw to seal it 😤
His mother rocks the “I ❤️ Pat Bev” shirt 🤣 pic.twitter.com/cnPxVr7LUE
A win like this reinforces the character of the Timberwolves, who have proven they can win even when Towns has an evening off. But the big man has to be exponentially better if Minnesota is going to make it out of the first round.