The Brooklyn Nets secured their spot in the NBA playoff main draw on Tuesday at Barclays Center after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-108 in the in-play tournament.
• Read also: Stephen Curry in action this weekend?
• Read also: Canadian Elite Basketball League: a Montreal player hired by the Alliance
• Read also: Rose-Anne Joly joins the Alliance
The Nets were never really worried, they who led from one end to the other of the match. After one quarter, they were already leading by 20 points. The Cavaliers did attempt a late push, but were never able to come within five points of their rivals.
In today’s duel, Kyrie Irving lifted the crowd favorites with 34 points, to which he added 12 assists to complete his double-double. His teammate Kevin Durant achieved the same feat, with 25 points and 11 assists.
Darius Garland ensured the reply of the visitors, he who scored 34 points. Evan Mobley tried to help him, with 19 additional points, but in vain.
The team that finished the regular season in seventh place in the Eastern Conference will thus preserve this place during the spring dance. She will face the Boston Celtics in the first round of playoffs.
All is not lost for the Cavs, eighth in the East, as they will play a one-night game on Friday against the winner of the duel between the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets, respectively ninth and tenth. in the East.
The Timberwolves also in the playoffs
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves capitalized on a late surge to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 at Target Center.
The crowd favorites were down by 10 points at one point in the fourth quarter, but they scored 21 of the next 26 points, to take the lead for good. The Timberwolves achieved this feat despite the fact that one of their best player, Karl-Anthony Towns, was ejected from the game after committing six personal fouls.
Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell took over in “KAT’s” absence, amassing 30 and 29 points, respectively.
The Timberwolves thus maintained seventh place in the West, which will pit them against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite Paul George’s 34 points, the Clippers were unable to resist their rivals of the day, but all is not lost for them, as they will face the winner of the duel between the Spurs of San Antonio and the New Orleans Pelicans, which will take place on Wednesday.