On April 13, the NBA playoffs kicked off, with the First Round in the East, with the Nets beating the Cavaliers 115-108 at home, so that the Nets locked in seventh place and advanced to the playoffs, with the first round opponent being the "Green Army" Celtics. The losing Cavaliers will then face the winner between the Hornets and hawks to compete for 8th place in the East and the last place to advance.
Statistics:
Cavaliers: Le Vere 12 points, 7 boards and 7 assists, Markkanen 13 points and 4 boards, Mobley 17 points and 7 boards, Garland 36 points and 5 assists, Lefou 14 points and 13 boards, Rondo 7 points, 3 boards and 9 assists;
Nets: Durant 25 points, 5 boards, 11 assists, 2 breaks, 3 caps, Brown 18 points, 9 boards, 8 assists, Drummond 16 points, 8 boards, Irving 34 points, 3 boards and 12 assists, Clarkston 13 points and 9 boards, Mills 6 points and 5 boards;
Focus Lens:
At one point, Irving shot 12-of-12, and for the sixth time in his career, he shot 100% from the first half (at least 5 goals);
Durant has delivered 10+ assists in two consecutive games, achieving this achievement for the third time in his career;
Contest Review:
In the first quarter, Irving scored his first goal on a layup, Drummond scored on a layup, Garland hit a jumper and Brown and Mobley scored against each other. Brown blasted in a three-pointer, Mobley slammed with both hands, Drummond scored a layup, Le Vere scored 2+1, and Brown hit a layup again. Durant scored on a jumper, followed by his big cap Markkanen after assisting in a dunk. Garland scored on a layup, Irving scored four points on a layup and jumper, and Stevens hit both free throws. Durant scored on a jumper, Garland and Irving made consecutive free throws, then the Nets blasted a wave of 15-3, Irving, Mills and Dragic hit three-pointers, Clarkston hit a big two-pointer, the first quarter ended, the Nets led the Cavaliers 40-20.
In the second quarter, Love threw a shot and scored, Rondo scored a dragon, and Love hooked up to close the gap. Irving's jumper stopped the bleeding, Love hit a three-pointer and the Cavaliers made it 9-2. Durant and Markkanen scored on jumpers, Mills hit a three-pointer, Markkanen cut in the air and Drummond hit one of two free throws. Mobley dunked, Stevens flew in, Durant and Irving scored consecutive points, Stevens scored 2+1, Garland scored a three-pointer from the outside, Irving pressed a whistle jumper to hit, the first half ended, the Cavaliers 43-57 Nets.
In the third quarter, Durant made a one-stop advance, Mobley hit a jumper, and Drummond dunked consecutively. Garland hit two free throws and Irving hit a three-pointer to bring the difference back to 20 points. Drummond dunked, Le Vere hit a three-pointer and Brown also played in color. Garland low-handed, Mobley scored 2+1, Drummond scored, and Mobley dunked. Mowbury hit a three-pointer, Brown dunked in, Markkanen hit two free throws, Garland and Irving scored against each other, Clarkston scored on a layup, and Markkanen dunked. Love hit a three-pointer, Durant cut in the air and Osman hit both free throws. The cavaliers finished the third quarter, 73-85 Nets.
In the fourth quarter, Irving hit a jumper, Garland scored a layup, Dragic was whistled for a first-degree malicious foul, Garland slammed in a three-pointer, Clarkston made one of two free throws, Garland picked a basket, and the gap narrowed to 6 points. Durant's three-pointer stopped the bleeding, Brown threw a throw, Markkanen hit a three-pointer, and Brown dunked. Le Vere hit the board to score, Clarkston skylinked a dunk, Markkanen also scored a jumper in color, and Durant hit consecutive jumpers. The Nets then maintained their lead and managed to win.
Two teams starting lineup:
Cavaliers starters: Garland, Okoro, Le Vere, Markkanen, Mobley;
Nets starters: Irving, Curry, Durant, Brown, Drummond;