On April 26, Beijing time, the 2021-22 NBA playoffs continued. In today's East Focus game, the Nets host a challenge from the Celtics. Before this game, the Nets were 3-0 behind the Celtics and would be eliminated if they lost again today.
As soon as the game began, Durant, who had been criticized recently, showed his aggressiveness. He quickly hit his first shot of the day and tried three shots in less than three minutes of the opening. Durant then fouled Horford and hit both free throws on the free throw line, and in the next leg, Durant hit a three-pointer in the bottom left corner. In the first quarter alone, Durant played the whole quarter, shooting 4 of 7, including 1 of 2 three-pointers and 2 of 2 free throws, 11 points and 2 assists!
After moving into the second quarter, Durant hit another mid-range shot in the middle of the quarter before hitting his second personal three-pointer of the day at the top of the arc. At the end of the quarter, Durant tried to hit another mid-range shot, and then he fouled Grant Williams and put himself on the free throw line. At the time of Durant's free throws, the Nets fans on the scene chanted MVP for him, and after two free throws, Durant had already scored 20 points in the first half, while he had only scored 16 points in the last game. However, the Nets struggled in the first half, trailing the Celtics 50-58.
After entering the third quarter, Durant quickly hit a mid-range shot, and then caused a three-point foul on Lowe, and Durant made a steady three-point shot. However, Durant's feel dropped, and he missed consecutive shots, relying only on free throws to continue his hand. Durant then assisted his teammates in a row, but the Nets did not close the point difference, trailing the Celtics 78:90 after the third quarter, Durant scored 7 points on 1 of 4 in this quarter, 5 of 5 free throws!
As the final quarter began, Durant quickly hit a shot and the Nets closed the gap 6-0. Durant then hit another shot from mid-range, and the Nets were once again close to the point difference. Durant then provided assists for his teammates in succession, and four minutes before the end of the game, Durant hit a shot to narrow the gap to six points. Durant steals Jaylen Brown 1:42 minutes before the end of the game to get the valuable ball, and then Durant throws a shot to close the point difference to one point. Then the Green Army Jaylen Brown won the basket, and Durant's key three-pointer was deflected. 22 seconds before the finale, Durant caused Smart to foul and make one of two free throws, and then Horford scored a basket, and the Nets trailed by four points. Durant then shot offside again, and the Nets were gone.
In the end, the Nets lost to the Celtics 112:116, and were eliminated by the total score of 0:4! Durant played a total of 46 minutes today, shooting 13-of-31, including 3-of-11 from three-point range and 10-of-11 from the free throw line, for a total of 39 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 1 steal. In the crucial final quarter, Durant had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but in the final moments, Durant first missed a three-pointer that could be equalized, then lost a key free throw to cause the Green Army to counterattack, and then missed three points, failing to help the Nets win.
After being eliminated by the Celtics, the Nets' journey this season is over.