Nets Without Irving Harden Upgraded For Game 5

The Brooklyn Nets lost their lead in the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, as the Milwaukee Bucks won games 3 and 4 at the Fiserv Forum.

Kyrie Irving suffered an ankle sprain in game 4 as the Bucks won 107-96. The Nets lost game 3, 83-86 as they missed several opportunities to regain the lead in the final moments of the game. The team felt they will need to improve offensively and communicate better moving forward. “It’s interesting that we lose a game because of our offense, but it was a tough game,” said first year head coach Steve Nash following Game 3. “The defense was solid though, but we have to clean it up.  Both ends of the floor, but particularly offense.”

Nash said they couldn’t find their rhythm.  The Nets played Game 3 without James Harden who sat out once again with a right hamstring injury, which he sustained in game 1. Kyrie Irving, Bruce Brown, Kevin Durant, Joe Harris and Blake Griffin was in the starting line-up.

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The Nets just made 20% of their shots from the field in the first quarter compared to the Bucks 57.1%.  The Nets, who relied on their 3-point shooting in games 1 and 2, made only 11.1% percent of their 3-point shots in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Bucks made 37.5% of their shots. The Bucks 3-point game was not a factor in the first two games of the series. Playing in the comfort of their home crowd helped their confidence. “It goes without saying — you’ve got to come home, you gotta win, keeping your mind in a good place, be ready to compete and play,” said Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.

TheBucks took the lead early as the Nets struggled early. Milwaukee jumped out to a 9-0 when Brooklyn took a time-out, about 4 minutes into the game.  The Bucks were ahead 30-11 by the end of quarter.  The Nets made a comeback andcut the Bucks’ lead to three points almost half way through the second quarter.  The Bucks led 52-45 at halftime. 

Both teams played aggressively looking to come away with the win.  Griffin was in foul trouble early with two in the first half.  Both Durant and PJ Tucker received technical fouls when they had a face-to-face verbal altercation after a foul was called on Tucker with about 4:21 minutes remaining in the third quarter.  The Nets gained a 65-64 lead, but the Bucks stepped up defense and blocked the Nets shots, and ended the quarter ahead 67-65.

A jump shot by Durant tied the score at 80 with less than 2:00 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.  KD stepped up again and made a 3-pointer. A goal tending call on the Nets gave the Bucks a two-point lead.  Bruce Brown and Durant missed shots in the final moments of the game. “We all know that we want Kevin and KY to shoot the ball, but if they don’t get free, they got to make the right play,” Nash said. “It was a great touch for us tonight and I think it’s a lot for us to learn from.”

Durant led the Nets with 30 points. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 35 points and 15 rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 14 rebounds, totaling 68 points. they became the first team duo to reach 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in 2017.

Both teams were ready in Game 4. Brooklyn led 26-23 at the end of the first quarter. The intensity picked up. The Bucks came back and led 44-38 with about 6:24 remaining in the second quarter. Irving took a pass from Durant and attempted to make a short jumper. On the way down, his right ankle caught the edge of Antetokounmpo’s foot severely rolling the ankle. Writhing in pain, Irving spent minutes on the floor before limping to the locker-room. He would not return. The Bucks ended the first half ahead 53-48.  The Bucks kept the lead the majority of the third quarter and went into the fourth quarter ahead 81-69 “It’s never going to be easy,” said Nash after Game 4 about the injuries. “It’s the playoffs and we’re going to face adversity.  We got to allow the adversity to make us stronger instead of hanging our heads.”