After all the wacky variables that have defined — and threatened — their ebb and flow season, the final task for the Nets is simple.
The Nets have a chance to seal the No. 7 play-in position in the Eastern Conference in their regular-season finals after earning a crucial 118-107 win over the Cavaliers at the Barclays Center on Friday night.
Kevin Durant led with 36 points in 41 minutes to make up for a poor evening of shooting from Kyrie Irving (7 of 22, 18 points) for the Nets, who squandered a 17-point lead before the rally. The Nets can secure seventh place in the East with a home win on Sunday against the eliminated Pacers.
“It feels good to be in this position. Fought hard and we just want to… get ready for Indiana next Sunday and get some good results there, get better that day and be ready [the play-in game on] Tuesday,” Irving said. “It feels good … with all the complications [this season]such things.
“That’s in the past now. We just control what we can control and get ready for the hoop.”
Kevin Durant reacts during the Nets’ win over the Cavaliers. NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets (43-38) have been dealing with various roster issues throughout the season, most notably Irving’s absence from the lineup at home games through March 28 due to his decision not to remain vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as Durant’s injuries and others. Ben Simmons (back) has also not campaigned for the team since taking over from the 76ers in James Harden’s blockbuster trade as of February deadline.
But they drew level with the dwindling Cavaliers, losers of 17 of their last 25, and now Steve Nash’s team controls its own destiny by owning the 3-1 head-to-head tiebreak between the teams. A seventh or eighth place finish would mean the Nets would only need to win one play-in game to qualify for the first round of the playoffs. The teams ranked ninth and tenth would need to win twice to secure the No. 8 postseason spot.
Bruce Brown lays up during the Nets’ win over the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“That’s why we play by trying to play at home in the play-in game,” Nash said. “We definitely want to prepare to play on Sunday and win the game.”
All-Star Guard Darius Garland scored 31 points for Cleveland and Rookie of the Year contestant Evan Mobley added 17 points after missing the last five games with an ankle injury.
Bruce Brown had an outstanding all-around game with 18 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots, while Andre Drummond also had a double-double (15 points and 12 boards) in the Nets’ third straight win.
Kevin Durant finished the game with a game-high 36 points. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Durant led his team by 16 points in the first quarter, 34-17. But the Cavaliers, who have been without an all-star center and former Net Jarrett Allen (finger) since March 6, drew within four points in the second quarter before trailing 62-54 at halftime.
Garland scored 11 points to lead an extended 28-11 run, resulting in an 88-83 turnaround advantage for Cleveland as he entered the final period.
Durant sat down to start the fourth, but he was back on court after just 1:28 had elapsed. He put the Nets back in the lead, 95-93, with a 3-pointer from the right with 8:50 remaining.
Back-to-back threes from Durant and Brown pushed the lead to eight just midway through the quarter, with Brown then sprinting across the court with both arms overhead as the Nets began to pull away.
“Game of Runs, we did ours early and they hit us in the mouth and I like how we reacted,” Durant said. “That was just the nature of our season, just getting knocked down and seeing how we reacted. I thought tonight was a good example of how we can respond to that.”