MANILA – Brooklyn Nets bucked a slow start to score a 141-126 victory over Boston Celtics in Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoffs on Sunday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Kevin Durant anchored the offense for the Nets with 42 points, including three outside conversions, while Kyrie Irving added a double-double of 39 points and 11 rebounds.
James Harden finished with 23 points and 18 assists, while Joe Harris and Bruce Brown have 14 markers each as the Nets cruised to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and moved closer to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Trailing for most of the first quarter, the Nets clawed their way back behind Durant and Irving to come to within 33-34 before seizing a 73-60 halftime lead on shots by Harden and Irving.
Brooklyn expanded the gap further in the second half, with Durant, Irving, and Harris spearheading the offense. The lead reached its largest at 127-103 on back-to-back triples by Durant.
Jayson Tatum tallied 40 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Evan Fournier and Marcus Smart added 16 markers apiece for the Celtics.
Atlanta Hawks, meanwhile, inched closer to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a 113-96 Game 4 domination over New York Knicks. They now lead the series, 3-1.
Trae Young top-scored with 27 points and nine assists, John Collins chipped in 22 points, while Danilo Gallinari contributed 21 points for the Hawks.
On the other hand, Phoenix Suns surged to a 100-92 win over Los Angeles Lakers to tie their Western Conference first-round series at 2-2. Chris Paul had 18 points and 10 assists for the Suns.
Apart from the defeat, the defending champion Lakers suffered a big blow with Anthony Davis sustaining a groin strain, making his status for Game 5 on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines) questionable.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 141 – Durant 42, Irving 39, Harden 23, Harris 14, Brown 14, Shamet 5, Griffin 2, T. Johnson 2, Luwawu-Cabarrot 0, James 0, Chiozza 0, Claxton 0.
BOSTON 126 – Tatum 40, Fournier 16, Smart 16, Nesmith 11, Parker 10, Langford 9, Thompson 5, G. Williams 5, Ojeleye 1, Waters 1, Kornet 0, Edwards 0, Fall 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
33-34, 73-60, 112-91, 141-126./PN
