Nets in disarray face first-round exit in NBA playoffs

NEW YORK: Brooklyn's NBA championship aspirations are on life support as the Nets head into Monday's (Apr 25) Eastern Conference first-round clash with Boston trying to avert a sweep.

The Celtics have effectively shut down Brooklyn star Kevin Durant, a two-time NBA champion, four-time scoring champion, an MVP and two-time Finals MVP as well as fellow superstar Kyrie Irving.

Both scored just 16 points apiece in a game-three loss to the Celtics on Saturday in which Durant attempted just 11 shots.

The star, who was expected to be a pillar of a Brooklyn "Big Three" with Irving and the now-traded James Harden, was left second-guessing himself.

"The first two games I was trying to be too aggressive. And watching film, a lot of my teammates were open," Durant said. "My approach to this game was to play off everyone. Get into the flow of the offense and let the ball find me.

"I've just been thinking too much this whole series, to be honest.

"Maybe that was the wrong decision," Durant said. "Maybe I should've been more aggressive to score."

The Nets, helmed by head coach Steve Nash, are floundering in general after being widely expected to contend.

No NBA team has rallied from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series.

Harden, the 2018 NBA MVP, was traded from Houston to the Nets in January 2021.

But he, Durant and Irving never really had much chance to jell this season as Harden battled injury and Irving, unvaccinated for COVID-19, was banned from home games for most of the season under New York City virus safety regulations.

Australian Ben Simmons, acquired in the trade that sent Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers, has yet to play for the Nets.

The Australian - who has not played a game in more than 10 months - appeared set to