He yelled a demonstrative “hell, no” when asked if the season put a strain on his friendship with Irving, but admitted it went through some tough moments as Durant had to carry a heavy load. Initially, the Nets banished Irving, not allowing him to play road games until attrition hit the team around the new year. “Yeah, yeah. Him not being around, wanting to be around,” Durant told Yahoo Sports. “Having conversations, missing games, missing playing together. It was not much more I could do. It was out of my control. The best I could do was come to work and be me and make sure the situation in the building was right for everybody.”
Source: Vincent Goodwill @ Yahoo! Sports
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
I felt like I was letting the team down at a point where I wasn’t able to play – Kyrie Irving #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 5:01 AM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
By advancing for the 5th time in 6 years, the Celtics are now 14-4 in their last 18 1st round games. (All four losses coming to the Nets in 2021.)
Kyrie Irving had been 20-1 in last 21 first round games until going 0-4.
Jaylen Brown (injured last year) has now won 13 straight. pic.twitter.com/bVKErkDo65 – 3:17 AM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
The Nets thought they could win a title this year.
They couldn’t even win a playoff game.
KD, Kyrie and Nash acknowledged that all the drama off the floor had an impact on it — while reflecting on one of the strangest seasons in recent memory. espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 2:09 AM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“I think it was just really heavy emotionally this season. We all felt it. I felt like I was letting the team down at a point where I wasn’t able to play. We were trying to exercise every option for me to play…I think it became a distraction at times.”
-Kyrie Irving
#NetsWorld – 1:24 AM
Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
I’ve gone down a Kevin Durant press conference rabbit hole and I must say – its impossible to come away thinking this guy is anything but a thoughtful really solid dude. Even in defeat the guy comes off great in a presser. – 1:18 AM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Kevin Durant to @YahooSports on James Harden “I wish it was different”, Kyrie Irving, the Nets season and how much power he has and wants in the organization sports.yahoo.com/nba-playoffs-c… – 1:11 AM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Despite Durant’s 39 points, Celtics sweep Nets
The Nets reduced a 15-point deficit to one, but had another season end in disappointment. And they things to say. newsday.com/sports/basketb… – 12:51 AM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Talked to Kevin Durant on wanting Kyrie Irving back, if their friendship was strained this year, his feelings on James Harden, having power with the Nets and praise of Jayson Tatum. Link soon on @YahooSports – 12:31 AM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kyrie Irving on #Nets early exit: “I know so many people wanted to see us fail at this juncture, picked us as contenders and have so much to say at this point. So I’m just using that as fuel for the summer.” #NBA nypost.com/2022/04/25/net… – 12:29 AM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
With the backing of Kevin Durant, Steve Nash’s job likely safe despite #Nets‘ first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the #Celtics nypost.com/2022/04/26/ste… via @nypostsports – 12:28 AM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Kyrie Irving says he’ll re-sign with Nets, and ‘managing this franchise’ is now apparently part of his job too
cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie… – 12:23 AM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
BSJ Game Report: Celtics 116, Nets 112 – C’s survive Durant’s explosion to sweep first round series
bostonsportsjournal.com/2022/04/26/bsj… – 12:22 AM
J. Michael Falgoust @ThisIsJMichael
Kyrie’s postgame conference, though honest, is problematic. This “we” as he and KD are gonna decide w/GM and owner on how to rebuild is part of the problem. They don’t have a culture bc of this approach. Not his fault. Leadership at the top has inspired this delusion – 11:35 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“Of course, I wanna know who I’m playing with out on the floor. I wanna know who we’re thinking….sometimes our team may come up and what we may need and what I see from a player’s perspective.”
-KD confirms he expects personnel input this off season as franchise player – 11:32 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“I felt great this year. I felt like the extra minutes were alright, Olympics didn’t do anything, I felt amazing, this whole season, physical wise, outside my MCL (sprain). But I didn’t feel fatigue, I didn’t feel any of that.”
-Durant asked about possible minutes burden – 11:27 PM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
NBA Playoffs 2022:
Kyrie Irving plans on signing extension with Nets, says he and Kevin Durant should ‘manage this franchise together’ with ownership nj.com/nets/2022/04/n… – 11:26 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“C’mon man. Yeah. Like, Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the last two years. He been had to deal with so much stuff as a HC… I’m proud of how he focused, and his passion for us.”
-Durant was asked if Steve Nash is still the right guy to lead the #Nets next year. pic.twitter.com/07Y0bkHpAY – 11:18 PM
Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
I don’t think the Nets won the trade that turned Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce into Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and sent them into the future to sweep Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. – 11:12 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“Once we finally got together we had a mission and wanted to make the playoffs and see what kind of noise we could make. We didn’t make any noise but we got to the playoffs.”
-Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/7es4pQcIls – 11:09 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“Guy be in and out the lineup, we injured, Seth came over w/ a little ankle injury so he was in and out the lineup, Goran had got COVID at the wrong time, Kyrie in and out the lineup, I was gone for 6 [weeks], that hurts any team.”
Durant on Nets ongoing challenges pic.twitter.com/gYahLcRfqG – 11:08 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Celtics take on challenge, sweep Durant/Irving Nets out of playoffs nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/25/cel… – 11:06 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“We look up and Seth Curry or Dragic is boxing out a 7 footer, they playing hard but they just smaller.”
-Durant – 11:03 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie: “When I say I’m here with Kev, I think that really entails us managing this franchise together, alongside Joe [Tsai] and Sean [Marks], just our group of family members in our locker room, in our organization.” – 11:00 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“A lot of stuff may factor in to why we lose but they was just a better team. I mean they just a better team.”
-Kevin Durant – 10:59 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Al Horford wanted to come to OKC to help Kevin Durant win a title but signed with Boston when KD bounced.
Ended up in OKC years later, helped the Thunder get 1st round picks on the way in and out and was traded back to Boston to bounce KD. – 10:58 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Nets’ Kyrie Irving: “[Hopefully]… we can just start fresh and be realistic with our own expectations and live with our team results, rather than being the polarization of the media scrum and having our names be dragged for a series that naturally happens in people’s careers.” pic.twitter.com/rJGkcZU26P – 10:56 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Jayson Tatum on matching up with Kevin Durant: “Somebody like that, he brought the best out of me. I knew I had to be on top of my game in this series. But I wasn’t surprised by how I played. I do feel like I’m one of the best players.” – 10:54 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie: “Sometimes I feel like the noise on the external world, the outside noise, can seep in. I’m not the type of person to allow that to happen so as we build together as a squad, I just think we need to be tougher mentally and just more honest about what we want to accomplish” – 10:53 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jayson Tatum on battling Kevin Durant: “Somebody like that, he brought the best out of me. I knew I had to be on top of my game in this series. But in the same breath, I wasn’t surprised by how I played. I do feel like I’m one of the best players.” – 10:53 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“We lost a franchise player and we got a franchise player back but we didn’t get chance to see [Ben Simmons] on the floor. There was no pressure for him to step on the floor with us either. Ben’s good, we have Ben, we have his back he’s gonna be good for next year.”
Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/XNkkKWWA5C – 10:50 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Kyrie Irving Nets career:
103 — Games played
123 — Games missed
1 — Franchise managed pic.twitter.com/4MnCgrYjo5 – 10:49 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“I don’t really plan on going anywhere…. when I say I’m here with Kev [Durant] I think that it really entails us managing this franchise together alongside Joe [Tsai] and Sean [Marks]… we’re cornerstones here but we have Ben, we have a few other guys…”
-Kyrie Irving on FA pic.twitter.com/ulk86MzHTK – 10:44 PM
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
For what it’s worth, here is the full context and video on the Kyrie quote that seems to be going around where he says about he and Kevin Durant that it “entails us managing this franchise together alongside Joe and Sean.” pic.twitter.com/P3L03Yp3nn – 10:35 PM
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Kevin Durant on the Kyrie Irving and James Harden trio not working out: “No regrets. Shit happens. No crying over spilled milk.” pic.twitter.com/zwJQqbRlqG – 10:34 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Kevin Durant, asked if Steve Nash is the right person to lead the group moving forward, reiterates that he feels Nash handled adversity well over course of last two years: “Yeah (Nash is the right person to lead team). Steve’s been dealt a crazy hand the last two years.” – 10:32 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kevin Durant on if Nash is still the right man to coach the #Nets: Come on, man. Yeah. Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the last two years, he’s been having to deal with so much stuff as a head coach for the first time, COVID, trades. I’m proud of his passion for us.” – 10:32 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
KD just gave Nash a vote of confidence. “Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the past two years.” pic.twitter.com/L5jBaLyJnF – 10:31 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
KD says he still believes Nash is the right guy to lead this group. He said he was dealt a “crazy hand,” and is appreciative of how Nash came through it. – 10:31 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“I mean come on man. Like, yeah. Steve has been dealt a crazy hand.”
-Kevin Durant was asked if Coach Nash still had his support. KD says he’s proud of Steve Nash’s performance amid obstacles. – 10:30 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kevin Durant on whether he believes Steve Nash is the right guy for the Nets’ coaching job: “Come on, man. Yeah. Steve’s been dealt a crazy hand the last 2 years.” – 10:29 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Kevin Durant on Steve Nash: “Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the past two years.” Endorses him returning. – 10:29 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
KD: “No regrets. Shit happens. No crying over spilled milk. It’s how we progress and get better from here.” – 10:29 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kevin Durant on ruing that the #Nets original Big 3 didn’t work out: “Sh1t happens. No crying over spilled milk. It’s about how we can progress and get better from here….So no need, no time to feel regret.” – 10:28 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Nets’ Kevin Durant on this season: “No regrets. S— happens. No crying over spilled milk. It’s how we can progress and get better from here.” – 10:27 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kevin Durant on whether he regrets not taking advantage of having a Big 3 of himself, Kyrie Irving and James Harden: “No regrets. No crying over spilled milk. It’s about how we can progress. … Shit just played out the way it did.” – 10:27 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Kevin Durant asked if he wishes it worked out with Harden and Kyrie and wondered what could have been: “No regrets. Shit happens.” – 10:26 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Kevin Durant: “No regrets. Shit happens.” – 10:26 PM
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Kyrie Irving: “I’m here with 7 (Kevin Durant). I’m here to build a great team.” pic.twitter.com/ax6DX7Z9Is – 10:24 PM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
‘I don’t know the answers to those questions’
KD on how next year’s roster should look with so much uncertainty – 10:24 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kevin Durant says he’s not ready to talk about which of his teammates will be back. – 10:24 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Celtics outscored Nets by 18 points in this 4-game sweep.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum had 208 points.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had 190 points. – 10:23 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
KD: “There’s a lot of stuff that factored in to why we lost, but they were just a better team.” – 10:22 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kevin Durant says he sees how many great players are in the league and if they want to contend they got a lot of work to do. Says he’ll be back in the gym. – 10:21 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie reiterates that he is still confident he will be with the Nets long-term. “There’s no question where I’m going. I’m here with seven.” – 10:20 PM
Scott Cacciola @ScottCacciola
More Kyrie: “I’ve been recognized for my greatness, but at this point I really just want to be part of a great team.” Says they can build one in Brooklyn. – 10:20 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Kyrie Irving asked if he plans on pursuing an extension with the Nets this offseason: “I don’t really plan on going anywhere. Like I said, this is added motivation for our franchise to be at the top of the league.” – 10:19 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
“It’s a co-management process” Kyrie says of the franchise off-season plans. – 10:18 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Kyrie says he felt he was letting the team down at times. pic.twitter.com/QHzkFVIR0y – 10:17 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Kyrie: “I felt like I was letting the team down….It became a distraction at times.” – 10:17 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kyrie Irving says the “outside noise” seeps into the #Nets locker room, and adds they have to be “tougher.” Admits he felt he was letting the team down at times when he couldn’t play. – 10:17 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Nets’ Kyrie Irving on his future: “I don’t really plan on going anywhere. This is added motivation for our franchise to be at the top of the league for the next few years.” – 10:16 PM
Scott Cacciola @ScottCacciola
Kyrie says he plans to re-sign with the Nets: “When I say I’m here with Kev, I think that really entails us managing this franchise together alongside Joe and Sean.” – 10:16 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving was asked if it’s his plan to stay with KD long term. Says they’re the cornerstones but there’s also Joe, Sean, Ben, and others. – 10:16 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Kyrie Irving says he doesn’t plan on going anywhere else — regarding extension. – 10:16 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Marcus Smart on Jayson Tatum’s matchup with Kevin Durant in this series: “He didn’t wait for anything. He took it.” – 10:15 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Kyrie says when asked about his extension he “doesn’t plan on going anywhere” else. pic.twitter.com/BnF1yG6lw3 – 10:15 PM
Shaun Powell @Powell2daPeople
The Nets were doomed by the player empowerment they endorsed, letting KD pick his mates, letting Harden renege at midseason, letting Kyrie play unvaxed after initially ruling him out, letting Simmons wear those clothes on the bench. – 10:15 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kyrie Irving on pursuing an extension w/ #Nets: “In terms of my extension, man, I don’t really plan on going anywhere. So this is just added motivation for our franchise to be at the top of the league for the next few years.” – 10:15 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Kyrie on his contract this summer: “I don’t plan on going anywhere.” – 10:15 PM
Yaron Weitzman @YaronWeitzman
Kyrie Irving on his Nets contract: “I don’t really plan on going anywhere.” – 10:15 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“I don’t really plan on going anywhere so this is added motivation.”
-Kyrie Irving on his pending FA. – 10:15 PM
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Kyrie Irving on a possible Nets extension: “I don’t plan on going anywhere.” pic.twitter.com/0vjmjzcsxw – 10:15 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Footage of KD choosing to team up with Kyrie in the summer of 2019: pic.twitter.com/zMwLdZ68wO – 10:15 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Kyrie Irving on signing an extension with the Nets: “I don’t plan on going anywhere.” – 10:15 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie Irving on his contract extension with the Nets: “I don’t really plan on going anywhere.” – 10:14 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“Oh s—t.” Kyrie Irving when the topic of his FA came up. – 10:13 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kyrie Irving on what cost the #Nets: “So many things get into our locker room, us not having probably a team balance of what affects us and impacts us, and how much trust we have in one another when things get uncomfortable. We’ve just got to be tested a little bit more.” #Nets – 10:13 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Kyrie Irving says he knows many people wanted to see Nets fail and says he’ll use that as part of his motivation heading into the offseason. He said he looks forward to next season, starting in October. “Hopefully we don’t run into any barriers and can start fresh.” – 10:11 PM
Scott Cacciola @ScottCacciola
“I know so many people wanted to see us fail at this juncture,” Kyrie Irving said. – 10:10 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Kyrie is taking a tact that is…unusual. Blames the media for making them favorites? – 10:09 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
Jordan got swept 2x… as a 22 and 23 year old to Bird’s Celtics.
LeBron got swept 2x… as a 22-yr old in the Finals and again in Finals vs arguably the best team ever.
Durant just got swept for 1st time… in the 1st round, with a handpicked costar as a preseason title favorite. – 10:09 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving says he feels some Disappointment and some sadness. He congratulates the Celtics. And he feels motivation “burning in his heart” cause of how many haters he and the Nets had. Already using that as fuel for next year. – 10:09 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
33-yr old LeBron got swept.***
33-yr old Durant got swept.
*** In the NBA Finals after dropping 51 in Game 1 against the most loaded team in NBA history which included KD who decided he would rather go play with Kyrie in Brooklyn. – 10:01 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Three years after watching Kyrie Irving walk away from this young core, the Celtics swept him out of the first round masslive.com/celtics/2022/0… – 9:58 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
This is the first time Kevin Durant has ever been swept.
Shout out to @Basketball-Reference for the invaluable playoff series splits.
(Next up: Playoff series finder??) pic.twitter.com/3h1hIaWSk7 – 9:56 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Steve Nash, in part, discussing season full of challenges (Irving, Harden, Simmons, injuries) after BKN’s loss to BOS: “Proud of them. We grew a lot. We’re just not able to see it (right now).” When asked, Nash says he wouldn’t want to say group underperformed given circumstances – 9:55 PM
Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
Rough look at KD getting his touches at the elbow tonight –
20 touches
.90 points per possession.
Not great. – 9:54 PM
Gary Tanguay @Gary_Tanguay
Hats off to the Celtics. Despite his 39 tonight Durant under performed. Did not see that coming. Credit Celtics overall D. – 9:51 PM
Tony East @TEastNBA
I have long been a “KD is the best player alive” believer, and that alone made me have faith in the Nets this series. Could not have been more wrong. Masterclass from Boston on both ends. – 9:46 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Record in elimination games:
Jordan 6-7
Durant 6-8
Kobe 9-10
LeBron 14-11 pic.twitter.com/n3aWn4VdW1 – 9:44 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Sweeping Kyrie and KD feels fucking great, thanks for asking! What a sheer delight! – 9:40 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
No LeBron James or Kevin Durant in the 2nd round for the first time since 2005 – 9:40 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Brooklyn Nets finish the season 9-10 (.474) with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving playing without James Harden. – 9:38 PM
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
I don’t really think any of this is on KD. The Nets were an incredibly flawed team post-Joe Harris injury, post-James Harden trade structurally. Very little chance to defend in the playoffs almost always having three of Drummond, Mills, Dragic, Curry, Kyrie out there. – 9:38 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Kevin Durant offers Jayson Tatum a big congratulatory hug after Celtics sweep Nets pic.twitter.com/XhWR9XtVqA – 9:38 PM
Mike Mazzeo @MazzNYC
At least Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons will have more time off – 9:37 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Kyrie Irving since Game 1:
15.3 PPG
37.2 FG%
2-11 3P pic.twitter.com/eU37scjkmL – 9:37 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics win 116-112. Sweep series 4-0.
Tatum – 29/3/5
Brown – 22/8/3
Smart – 20/5/11
Grant – 14 points, 3 blocks
Horford – 13 points
Celtics – 47.2% FGs
Celtics – 14-35 3Ps
Durant – 39/7/9
Curry – 23 points
Irving – 20 points
Nets – headed home for the summer – 9:36 PM
Tom Lorenzo @TomLorenzo
Trade Kyrie to CLE for Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert and send Ben Simmons to Minnesota for D’Angelo Russell…and let’s just spend the next 6 years being OK with 41 wins and a first round upset. Do it. – 9:35 PM
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops
Boston Celtics continue one of the greatest and most improbable turnarounds we’ve ever seen within a season.
Absolutely incredible sweeping KD and Kyrie. – 9:35 PM
Alok Pattani @AlokPattani
2021-22 Nets w/ Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving*, James Harden*, Ben Simmons**: 44-38 (7th in East), 15th in Net Rtg, swept in 1st Round
2018-19 Nets w/ 0 players w/ prev All-Star selections: 42-40 (6th in East), 15th in Net Rtg, lost 4-1 in 1st Round
Even w/ the *s, pretty stunning – 9:35 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Kevin Durant has lost 6 playoff games in a row. pic.twitter.com/z0cDyZa3zn – 9:34 PM
Carl Steward @stewardsfolly
Awesome reaction by Smart on that futile KD one-legged 3. “Damn.” – 9:34 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics sweep #Nets with a 116-112 win, win the four games by 18 points. But they were the better team. Tatum 29, J. Brown 22, Smart 20, GWilliams 14, Horford 13; Durant 39, Curry 23, Irving 20, Claxton 13 (1-for-11 FT).
BOS plays MIL-CHI winner with home-court advantage – 9:34 PM
Alan Hahn @alanhahn
Save your KD slander. This ain’t on him. But they need to rethink a LOT of how they run things in Brooklyn. – 9:34 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
it’s been 1029 days since KD & Kyrie signed with the Brooklyn Nets and they have won 1 playoff series total. – 9:34 PM
Mike Mazzeo @MazzNYC
Swept in the first round with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Pathetic. Congratulations to Joe Tsai, Sean Marks and the best culture in pro sports history on an all-time failure. The smartest guy in Brooklyn this year was James Harden – 9:33 PM
Meghan Triplett @Meghan_Triplett
Well it resulted in a loss but it did end on a KD made three 😬 – 9:33 PM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
Brooklyn gets swept. The Nets are in a tough situation. KD, Kyrie, Simmons, Joe Harris, Seth Curry make $140+M combined.
Patty Mills can opt out. Drummond, Bruce Brown, Claxton, Blake Griffin, Aldridge, Dragic are all free agents.
Rockets control their draft for 5 more years. – 9:33 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
The Nets obviously made a lot of runs, but they never led in this game. The only chance they had was back at 30-30 in the 2nd, when that KD shot went in and out. – 9:33 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Howling at Smart’s reaction to that KD three. – 9:33 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Such a painful ending to a really twisted season. Nets eliminated in a sweep. Durant has huge game, but it’s not enough. Nets lose 116-112. – 9:33 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
This is the first playoffs in 17 years without KD or LeBron in the second round. pic.twitter.com/K7Dw9jMovz – 9:33 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
KD shot that like he ain’t want it to go in. 💀 – 9:33 PM
Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
Three years after Kyrie Irving ditched the “young guys” to partner with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn, Celtics sweep the Nets out of the first round of the playoffs. – 9:33 PM
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops
KD and Kyrie have been … pic.twitter.com/xZDqfE7fpJ – 9:33 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Final: Celtics beat the Nets 116-112 to sweep Brooklyn. The third season of KD and Kyrie ends in the first round. Durant had 39, Irving had 20 and Blake Griffin played his ass off. 12 missed free throws hurt the Nets among other problems. Plenty of coverage coming your way. – 9:33 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
this time KD is going to call Draymond from the parking lot. – 9:32 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
Kyrie Irving playoff series W-L
10-2 with LeBron
2-3 without LeBron
And one of the two loses with LBJ, Kyrie only played one game. – 9:32 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
KD ends his night with a 3 on one foot, for his 39th point. Smart fouled again. #Celtics – 9:32 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
So you’re telling me Kyrie Irving came up two or three shots short, huh? – 9:32 PM
Meghan Triplett @Meghan_Triplett
After getting 36pts, This game is going to end on a KD missed FT and a KD missed three. 👀 – 9:31 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
That Smart foul was brilliant. Durant was feeling it and #Celtics risked letting him tie with a 3 or fouling him on the attempt. Smart didn’t let that happen. #Nets – 9:31 PM
Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
Anyone have a replay of that last KD 3PT attempt? – 9:31 PM
Carl Steward @stewardsfolly
Valiant effort by Durant but he’s stuck on the Brooklyn Nots. His choice. – 9:31 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Russell Westbrook won the same number of playoff games this season as Kevin Durant. – 9:30 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
KD and Kyrie are 9-10 without James Harden this season. pic.twitter.com/yQN0nc7MN4 – 9:30 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Feels like the worst type of Brooklyn play offensively in this second half has been a Kevin Durant 3-point attempt – 9:30 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
That in all likelihood is gonna do it. Nets fans are headed for the exits, and Celtics fans are waving them goodbye. Kevin Durant missed a pull-up 3 that could have made this a one-point game. Let’s Go Celtics chants are raining down at Barclays. – 9:29 PM
Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
LOL Patty Mills was running back on D on that Durant 3pt attempt. – 9:28 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Durant misses a 3. Smart fouled getting rebound with 7.1 left. #Celtics #Nets – 9:28 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Microcosm of Brooklyn’s season. They get the miss from Smart, but KD jogs back into the play and Horford is unbothered on the offensive rebound to likely end it. – 9:28 PM
Meghan Triplett @Meghan_Triplett
everybody shocked that KD missed that FT except the Celtics. Nets like froze there and then Boston with the push – 9:28 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
I’d look for the Nets to run something for Kevin Durant to shoot an impossible shot with a guy draped all over him right here. – 9:27 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
Kyrie ran all the way down court to not even attempt a box out? Haha. – 9:27 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Oh my. KD has great game but misses a three and one free throw in the final minute. Nets down by four with 13.7 left. Not looking good. – 9:27 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Credit Smart with that open-court foul on Durant. #Celtics would much rather have Durant at the line for two than trying to tie with a 3. – 9:27 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Oh no KD 😳😳😳 – 9:27 PM
Rob Peterson @ShotDrJr
Holy … Kyrie just whiffed on boxing out Horford. – 9:27 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Durant missed the back end of a free throw. Scramble for the ball gets Smart a layup attempt. Horford with the putback. 113-109 Celtics with 13.7 seconds left. – 9:27 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Durant splits the FTs, Smart races down the floor, misses layup, Horford putback. BOS 113, BRK 109. Fans are streaming out of Barclays. #Celtics #Nets – 9:26 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Brutal missed free throw there from Kevin Durant makes this a two-possession game with 13.7 seconds to go in the 4th quarter. – 9:26 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
KD asks for the ball before the free throw and rubs it for, I dunno, luck or something? Then Grant Williams grabs from the ref and rubs to undo the luck. It worked. KD missed the 2nd FT – 9:26 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Smart fouls Durant in the open floor, preventing a chance to tie with a 3. Durant FTs with 22.2 left and BOS up 3. – 9:25 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Incredible play by Grant Williams to track back for that rebound after the contest on KD. – 9:24 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Kevin Durant has 35 points, Brooklyn down by one with 1:20 left. – 9:23 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Marcus Smart tried to jump KD on the inbounds pass, leaving Kyrie wide open for a three to make this a 109-106 game. Barclays Center is loud as hell. It’s a 3 point game with 2 minutes to go. – 9:21 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Smart goes for the steal, leaves Kyrie alone. 3. #Celtics up just 3 – 9:20 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
I need to know if KD made this or not. Elite post-whistle defense pic.twitter.com/iSYEz3slf5 – 9:20 PM
Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
Grant won’t even let KD get a clean look after a timeout on the floor. pic.twitter.com/StESeH6PGt – 9:17 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Kevin Durant takes a couple of dribbles after the Nets call time, looking to take a shot. Grant Williams, who has been brilliant defensively this series, stays with Durant even as the teams head to their huddles and forces KD to shoot with him in his chest. – 9:17 PM
J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
god im cracking up at grant williams not letting KD even get a shot off during the dead ball
that’s a classic – 9:16 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Great defense by Grant on Durant to force a miss.
Then a huge tip-in by the loved and trusted Marcus Smart. – 9:16 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Kevin Durant’s most dependable co-star right now: Goran Dragic. Where’s Kyrie Irving? – 9:15 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
you wanted Kevin Durant to force shots? well, you got your wish. – 9:15 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Goran Dragic just banked in a 3 to make this a 102-99 game with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Jaylen Brown answers with an and-1 pull-up mid-range jumper over Kyrie Irving and is headed to the line. Let’s go Celtics chants erupt at Barclays – 9:14 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Four fouls on Kevin Durant. Reviewed for a flagrant for no reason at all. – 9:09 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Foul watch:
Durant-4
Tatum-5
Theis-4 – 9:09 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Durant then hits Smart with an elbow and now he’s being reviewed for a flagrant. As he does, Smart really tried to sell the call. Common foul. #Celtics #Nets – 9:08 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Offensive foul on KD for elbowing Marcus Smart in the face. Play is under review for a potential flagrant foul. Durant is up to 4 fouls. – 9:08 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
People may hate the take foul, but boy did the Nets have to give one there. Durant and Griffin were both down on the other end. Celtics came down 5 on 3. – 9:03 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Durant cuts the Celtics lead to six. It’s 90-84 with 10:08 left. Lot of game left. Timeout Celtics. Nets start the quarter on a 6-0 run. – 8:59 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Timeout, Celtics: Kevin Durant shoots over Grant Williams to make this a 90-84 game. Durant has 29, Seth Curry has 20, but nothing offensively from Bruce Brown tonight. Kyrie has 13 on 3-of-8 FG – 8:59 PM
Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
And hate to beat a dead horse but its almost impossible to get a layup in transition when KD runs the floor and camps out on the elbow on a fastbreak. Thats just criminal. – 8:58 PM
Anthony Puccio @APOOCH
The series in a nutshell: KD doubled, no spacing, everyone just standing around watching. pic.twitter.com/zU0HwXXn6Z – 8:56 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 90-78 after three
Tatum – 24/3/5
Brown – 16 points
Grant – 14 points
Smart – 10/2/11
Celtics – 47.8% FGs
Celtics – 11-29 3Ps
Celtics – 10 TOs
Durant – 27 points, 6 assists
Curry – 16 points
Claxton – 10 points
Nets – 48.2% FGs
Nets – 8-26 3Ps
Nets – 9 TOs – 8:55 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
“Why I didn’t made the #NBA75.”
– Kyrie Irving via The Players Tribune – 8:55 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie hasn’t given KD much help at all tonight. He is just 3-for-8 from the field. Doesn’t look nearly as aggressive as he has in past. Boston’s defense deserves credit — but it’s also on Kyrie to force the issue. He has been a non-factor in this series since scoring 39 Game 1. – 8:55 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics leading #Nets 90-78 after 3Q. Tatum 24, J. Brown 16, GWilliams 14, Smart 10, White 9; Durant 27 (8-19 FG), Curry 16, Irving 13, Claxton 13 (1-11 FTs). – 8:53 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Durant minutes since March 29:
42 – 39 – 45 – 42 – 37 – 42 – 41 – 41 – 41 – 42 – 46
He’s sat out 1:21 so far tonight. – 8:52 PM
Mark Haynes @markhaynesnba
The thought of no LeBron James or Kevin Durant in the second round of the playoffs is about to be a reality. – 8:50 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Now Durant is guarding Tatum. He’s been holding his shorts whenever he doesn’t have the ball and now he has to shut Tatum’s water off? – 8:49 PM
Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
The Nets throwing out a KD-as-the-big-man lineup is one of the reasons I think this series is a lot more about the Celtics just objectively being a much better basketball team rather than an indictment on the Nets’ stars. – 8:48 PM
Lang Greene @LangGreene
Celtics drawing the chalk outline tonight on KD and Kyrie? – 8:48 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Need to see more of that from Kyrie. – 8:44 PM
Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
Why do they put KD in a spot on the floor where you can double him impunity? I really don’t get it. Is the elbow KDs Binkie? – 8:44 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Steve Nash is rolling with Durant, Brown, Mills, Irving and Dragic. Four guards and KD. Going for the firepower down 10. – 8:43 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Durant and four guards again. Nets are going all offense right now. – 8:42 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Robert Williams with his second bad foul on the 3Q, fouling Irving on the drive with the #Nets in the bonus. #Celtics – 8:38 PM
Kyle Kuzma @kylekuzma
Feel like Kd rushing his shot – 8:28 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Foul watch:
Boston
Theis – 4
Horford – 3
Tatum – 3
Brooklyn
Durant – 3
Curry – 3
Dragic – 3 – 8:27 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The way KD has handled the ball in this series, I wouldn’t be shocked if we found out he had a broken hand or something. This is wild stuff. – 8:23 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Going to need a mix tape of some of these bizarre Durant turnovers after this series. – 8:22 PM
Abby Chin @tvabby
After a nice little inside pass to Bruce Brown, Kevin Durant looked over at Ime Udoka and smirked. 😏 – 8:22 PM
Mike Mazzeo @MazzNYC
Kevin Durant is emptying the clip. Kyrie Irving is chanting 1-2-3 Cancun – 8:16 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
If Kyrie Irving starts waving off everyone else to guard Jayson Tatum one-on-one, it’s the 2019 Milwaukee series come full circle. – 8:13 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Grant Williams has outscored Kyrie Irving the last three games. Kyrie should probably guard that guy? – 8:12 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
1.4 seconds left in the half. Plenty of time to take a dribble and get up a heave from half court.
In what is, quite literally, a must-win game for his team. Where every point is crucial.
And Kyrie Irving decides not to even attempt a shot.
Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/3TDzx1Dzpq – 8:08 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
What a wretched defensive decision by Kyrie Irving. Just no reason to leave the corner there. – 8:08 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 58-50 at the half
Tatum – 12 points, 5 assists
Brown – 12 points
Grant – 12 points
Smart – 7 assists
Celtics – 43.5% FGs
Celtics – 8-21 3Ps
Celtics – 8 TOs
Durant – 20 points
Curry – 10 points
Irving – 7 points
Nets – 51.4% FGs
Nets – 6-15 3Ps
Nets – 7 TOs – 8:07 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie at the half: 7 PTS, 2/5 FG – 8:06 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
KD has three fouls. Kyrie has taken just five shots in 23 minutes. Nic Claxton is 0-for-7 from the free throw line. As has been the case throughout the series — every time the Nets have made a push, the Celtics have been right there with another answer. – 8:05 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Halftime: Celtics lead the Nets 58-50. Credit to Boston. They just keep coming at you. They remind me a bit of Phoenix. You punch them in the mouth and they’re right back at you. Kevin Durant has 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting. That’s good. But he needs help. – 8:05 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Nets trail the Celtics, 58-50, at the half in front of a crowd cheering Boston’s every make. Nets are down 8, but Nic Claxton has missed all 7 of his free throws. Kevin Durant has 20 at the half and has played all but 2 minutes. Fouls are even at the half. – 8:05 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
And another one for Grant… C’s answer Brooklyns’ 10-3 run with a 10-4 run and lead by 8 at the half. Grant, Brown, Tatum, all have 12. KD has 20 – 8:05 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Two huge dimes from Tatum to Grant open in the corner in the final minute of the half to give Boston an 8 point cushion heading to halftime. KD is grinding away at the Celtics defense and Claxton is feeding when they double KD, but Kyrie still hasn’t found his place yet. – 8:05 PM
Vincent Ellis @AlabamaScribe56
What was Kyrie doing? – 8:05 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Grant Williams just keeps camping out in that left corner and everyone seems to know it but the Nets. He hits his fourth of the half for the final points and it’s 58-50 Celtics. Durant has 20. – 8:05 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Grant Williams with another 3 and the #Celtics go to the break with a 58-50 lead. GWilliams 12, J. Brown 12, Tatum 12; Durant 20, Curry 10, Irving 7. – 8:05 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Another useless Kyrie random double leaves Williams wide open for a 3, but great vision by Tatum to see him late clock. – 8:05 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Terrible defense by Kyrie. Left to double Tatum who was well covered. Left Grant Williams in the corner for a 3. 58-50, C’s at the half – 8:04 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
KD already has more points in two quarters tonight than all of Game 3. pic.twitter.com/dHxxdt6fev – 8:00 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
That Seth Curry 3 off a KD dish caps a 10-3 run. The #Nets – who trailed by ten – have cut a 42-34 deficit to one. #Celtics – 7:55 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Nets finding space offensively now with Mills and Curry out there together and Brown off the floor. That’s left Claxton guarding Tatum with KD on 3 fouls. – 7:55 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Durant appears to be playing much more decisively as this game goes on. Now with 12 shots and 16 points. Brooklyn within one with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. – 7:55 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Timeout, Celtics: Kevin Durant goes coast-to-coast then dishes to Seth Curry, who hits a corner 3 to make this a 45-44 game. Celtics still lead with 3:29 to go in Q2. – 7:54 PM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Let the record show that Kevin Durant and Daniel Theis just tangled, and it resulted in Durant getting called for his third foul. Even Theis was basically like ‘wait for real’? – 7:52 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
I don’t think that’s a foul on Kevin Durant. And it’s his third. Bad call there – 7:52 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Durant shoves theis — 3rd personal. – 7:51 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
That’s one the Nets don’t need. Durant called for knocking Theis down way away from the ball and now has three fouls midway through the second quarter. – 7:51 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Three fouls on Kevin Durant. – 7:51 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Third foul on Durant #Celtics #Nets – 7:51 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Best position KD has gotten on the block. Forceful postup, sealed to get the ball, and goes up immediately before the double could arrive. – 7:51 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Kyrie Irving has still hit more shots in Game 1 than
in 2-4 combined so far. – 7:49 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
12-4 is the run. I’m watching that 30-30 stretch as an early turning point. KD’s 3pointer was in and out and Ime was ready to call a timeout but Boston got the rebound. That could be BK’s last great chance – 7:48 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Kyrie and KD with poor defensive effort on these last 2 Tatum threes. – 7:43 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Lazy closeout on defense from Kyrie, live ball turnover from KD, leads to two triples from Tatum.
It’s the little things – 7:43 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Is Cam Thomas that bad that the Nets can’t run him out there for five minutes to give KD a break? After playing 46 minutes in Game 3, Durant on a similar pace tonight. – 7:43 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
These Durant turnovers are something. That last one wasn’t even forced. – 7:42 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
KD turnover leads directly to a Tatum 3. – 7:41 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Kevin Durant gets an 80-second break to start the second quarter and then is right back on. The Nets hadn’t even lost any ground. Seems they should steal at least another minute there. – 7:41 PM
Yaron Weitzman @YaronWeitzman
Am I crazy for thinking that a group of Blake, Curry, Dragic and Kyrie playing together might be the worst defensive lineup in recent playoff history? – 7:40 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Really slow start for Tatum/Brown (10 points, 2/9 FGs, 0/3 3s, 2 assists, 2 turnovers) and Durant has it going early (11 points, 4/7 FGs, 1/2 3s, 2 assists, 1 turnover).
But Celtics still lead after a full Durant first quarter – 7:39 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 30-26 after one
White – 7 points
Brown – 6 points
Horford – 5 points
Smart – 5 assists
Celtics – 39.1% FGs
Celtics – 2-9 3Ps
Celtics – 5 turnovers
Durant – 11 points
Mills – 5 points
Claxton – 4 points
Nets – 55.5% FGs
Nets – 4-7 3Ps
Nets – 5 turnovers – 7:37 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Celtics up 30-26 after 1Q.
FIRST QUARTER TAKEAWAYS
* Aggressive KD (11 pts, 4/7 shooting) tonight.
* Balanced C’s attack, 8 of 9 to play have scored.
* Nic Claxton 4 pts, 0/6 from the free-throw line. – 7:37 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Durant played the whole first quarter and didn’t wait for the double-teams, shooting quickly — and often — for 11 points with 2 assists and 1 turnover. Nets still trail 30-26 after 1. – 7:37 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
End of the first quarter: Nets trail the Celtics 30-26. A much better start for Kevin Durant, who is 4-for-7 with 11 points. Nets just 2-for-8 from the charity stripe and Nic Claxton accounts for all six misses. Boston’s defense is smothering, but Nets hanging in there. – 7:36 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Nets hanging pretty tough. Trail Boston, 30-26, at the end of first period. KD has a very KD 11 points. – 7:35 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Durant, who had ZERO field goal attempts over the final 11 minutes of Game 3, has 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the first quarter tonight – 7:35 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Celtics up 30-26 after one. Durant has 11 points. Nets are 2 for 8 at the line, with all six misses by Claxton. – 7:35 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Tight game despite Boston going 10-11 from the line. That’s because KD has finally gotten going with 11 1st q points. C’s giving up 7 points off 5 turnovers – 7:35 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics lead #Nets 30-26 after 1Q. White 7, J. Brown 6, Horford 5, Tatum 4; Durant 11, Mills 5, Claxton 4 (6 missed FTs). – 7:35 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
KD just dropping the ball out of bounds. – 7:33 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
KD lost the ball out of bounds under Grant Williams’ defensive pressure. – 7:32 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Nets got rare breathing room with a 3-on-2 break and Durant passed to Claxton. Smart correctly fouled him. He misses both. He’s a human turnover at the line now. 0 for 6 tonight. – 7:31 PM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Great sequence for Grant Williams. Hits a corner 3, then plays tough d on Durant along the baseline, strips him, and knocks it out off Durant. Udoka gives him a big high-five as he passes by. – 7:26 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Great defense by Grant on KD. – 7:26 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Grant Williams just got a one-on-one stop on KD. KD’s pushoffs didn’t generate much space. Williams swiped down and knocked the ball off Durant. – 7:26 PM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Nets are extremely small right now. Durant at center. Kyrie, Dragic and Patty Mills all on the court. Seems like they’ve decided if they can’t stop the Celtics anyway, might as well just try to outscore them. – 7:25 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Grant blocking a Kyrie pullup? Maybe this will be a sweep. – 7:23 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Theis smothers a Kyrie drive and on the other end Derrick White to the line to complete a three-point play and the Boston lead is 22-12 with 4:47 left in the first. – 7:22 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Foul count:
Seth Curry – 3
Kevin Durant – 2
Goran Dragic – 2
Andre Drummond – 1
Celtics – 3 – 7:21 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kevin Durant has 7 early points: A one-legged running baseline middy and a spot-up 3, plus two free throws. A welcome sign for Nets fans and sports bettors taking Durant’s scoring over alike. – 7:16 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
5:24 in and we have 3 fouls on Curry, 2 on Durant and Horford. 15-12 Celtics at the first timeout. – 7:14 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Two fouls on Kevin Durant and that last one was a really bad one. – 7:13 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Durant finally getting something to fall… but now he’s also picked up his 2nd personal foul of the first quarter just five minutes into the game – 7:12 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kevin Durant has 7 early points, but the officials have a quick whistle. The Nets have been whistled for 6 fouls here at the 7:20 mark: 3 for Curry, 2 for Durant and 1 for Drummond. – 7:12 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Durant already with four shots tonight. Letting it go pretty quickly. Only way to go. Win or lose, it’s got to be with him firing early and often. – 7:12 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
If KD is going down, he’s going down shooting. – 7:12 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Second foul in Durant at the 7:20 mark. #Celtics #Nets – 7:12 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
One thing is clear – Kevin Durant is not going quietly. 4 attempts (and 2 FT’s) in 4 minutes. And two fouls. – 7:12 PM
Jay King @ByJayKing
That was one of the first times Kevin Durant has been able to get a full head of steam going toward the rim all series. Just hasn’t had much easy, but used a nice backdoor cut to free himself there, drew a pair of free throws, then drilled a 3 on the next possession. – 7:12 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Kevin Durant far more aggressive early, getting the ball on the move. He’s 1-3 and the Nets trail 8-2 – 7:08 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Nets are making an effort to get Durant the ball in space. None of the cluttered catches in the mid-post area. – 7:08 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Durant has been very physical against Horford defensively – one foul – and attacked the double instead of passing out of it on his first bucket. – 7:06 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Boos for Kyrie as he first touches the ball. There is a strong #Celtics contingent here. #Nets – 7:04 PM
Mark Murphy @Murf56
Irving scoops up the ball after the tap and gets booed. Lot of Celtics fans in this crowd. – 7:03 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Celtics fans boo Kyrie Irving at Barclays Center during pregame introductions pic.twitter.com/Qjs2D5BSYH – 7:03 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Probably not a great omen that after the Nets had 21 turnovers in Game 3, Kyrie immediately lost control of the ball in his dribbling routine before the tip. – 7:03 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Kyrie hearing the boos from the Brooklyn crowd during introductions. Likely from the large contingent of Celtics fans in the building. Lot of empty seats for this 7 pm start. – 7:01 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
First one obviously comes with a huge asterisk. But if Nets lose tonight, they are swept out of the postseason twice in three years after signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. – 6:58 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Celtics at Nets – Barclay’s Center – April 25, 2022 – Game 4 Starters
Boston – Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Theis
Brooklyn – Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Bruce Brown, Kevin Durant, Andre Drummond
OUT: Boston: None Brooklyn: Simmons, Harris pic.twitter.com/ME1KfuCeN9 – 6:34 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Nets starters for Game 4: Irving, Curry, Durant, Brown and Drummond – 6:31 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Nets starters: Irving, Curry, Brown, Durant and Drummond – 6:31 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics starters tonight:
Daniel Theis
Al Horford
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
Nets starters:
Andre Drummond
Kevin Durant
Bruce Brown
Seth Curry
Kyrie Irving – 6:31 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
The #Nets starters for tonight’s Game 4 vs. the #Celtics: Irving, Curry, Durant, Brown and Drummond. As expected. – 6:31 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
You’re going to miss, Ky Irving 🎶
We know what all @Boston Celtics fans will be singing tonight…
@Brian Scalabrine | @Frank Isola pic.twitter.com/2gGz1VFORU – 6:20 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“If you are the best player in the world you are able to overcome all of this and get the job done.”
@Rick Kamla tells @Amin Elhassan why it is time for Kevin Durant to step it up.
Will he turn it around tonight? Hear Game 4 at 7:00pm ET – https://t.co/Wir3FS92Ki pic.twitter.com/cMlGnYywR7 – 5:24 PM
Paul Pierce @paulpierce34
Tatum is leading the Celtics to the sweep tonight 🧹
Who’s riding with my picks on @DKSportsbook?
Celtics Moneyline
Tatum 40+ Pts/Rbs/Ast
KD Under 27.5 Pts
Game 4 – Let’s do this! Changing of the Guard in effect.
https://t.co/tmgc538YZ0 #DKPartner pic.twitter.com/AHtmgz5Z5a – 4:59 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Kyrie Irving warming up ahead of Game 4 pic.twitter.com/tQbEjnPABr – 4:33 PM
John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
Kyrie Irving, out early for Game 4. @ Barclays Center instagram.com/p/CcyX6HSuvx9/… – 4:15 PM
Tina Cervasio @TinaCervasio
It’s win tonight. Or, it’s over.
Let’s go back to October.
Who thought the #Nets would be on the brink of elimination in a 1st round sweep WITH Kyrie back playing full time?
Well … Here we are.
See you live at 5 pm on @fox5ny from Barclays Center. pic.twitter.com/HUdzyIBEMx – 4:07 PM
John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
More notes, numbers & film (Tatum, Durant, RWilliams & the Nets’ bigs) to set up Celtics-Nets Game 4: nba.com/news/celtics-n… – 12:14 PM
Michael Gallagher @MikeSGallagher
Talking Alpha Tatum, KD’s shot selection, Bruce Brown’s usage spike, Embiid’s thumb, the Raptors without FVV, Luka’s return, and Gobert’s offense for today’s NBA Matchups: establishtherun.com/nba-matchups-a… – 12:05 PM
Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBA
So here’s a snippet from @Sam Amick piece in @The Athletic comparing what the Celtics are doing to Durant off the ball to “90s playoff basketball”. Why is Nash not making this kind of physicality a public issue. Monty has CP3’s back. Jenkins has Ja’s back. Why not Nash? pic.twitter.com/4KW0KnuUWX – 11:09 AM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
The other two stretches of five-plus turnovers in three consecutive playoff games from Kevin Durant, per @Basketball-Reference…
2014 first round against Memphis (w/ OKC)
2016 West semis against San Antonio (w/ OKC)
theathletic.com/3267036/2022/0… – 10:44 AM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
In Kevin Durant’s 154 playoff games, this is just the third time he coughed up five-plus turnovers in three consecutive games (17 so far against Boston). More here from rival scouts on what the Cs are doing so well, at @TheAthletic
theathletic.com/3267036/2022/0… – 10:40 AM
Michael Gallagher @MikeSGallagher
Kevin Durant’s shot chart in the regular season (L) and in the Boston series (R).
Small sample in the playoffs, but 65.4% of shots coming in the mid-range is something else. pic.twitter.com/Lfrj3Klnmz – 10:21 AM
Quinton Mayo @RealQuintonMayo
Charles Barkley. You can’t call KD a “bus rider” when he had two back-to-back Final’s MVPs.
You just can’t do that. – 9:34 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: Kyrie Irving walking away from Celtics in free agency looked like it could be disastrous for Boston in 2019. Three years later, the Celtics short and long-term trajectory looks even better after his exit masslive.com/celtics/2022/0… – 9:31 AM
More on this storyline
Durant didn’t hesitate when asked by Yahoo Sports following his news conference whether he wants to continue to have Irving as a teammate. “Of course,” Durant said. “I would love for him to play more. Life is way more important to me than that. I can’t be pissed off. I can’t end the friendship based on something like that. Our friendship is based off who we are as human beings. The basketball adds to it. If we don’t get along on the basketball court, we can easily talk it out as friends.” -via Yahoo! Sports / April 26, 2022
