MANILA – Despite the early exit of James Harden, Brooklyn Nets managed to topple Milwaukee Bucks, 115-107, in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Kevin Durant posted a double-double of 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris gave 25 and 19 points, respectively, as the Nets took a 1-0 edge in the best-of-seven series.
Blake Griffin tallied 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Mike James earned 12 points for the Nets. James took over the spot of Harden, who abandoned the game due to a right hamstring injury.
Struggling with their offense, the Nets rallied in the second period to obtain a 59-48 lead behind Irving, Griffin, and James. The Bucks, however, responded to come to within 61-63 at the half.
Brooklyn banked on Durant’s offense in the third canto to widen the gap to 83-73. Milwaukee then clawed to within 80-86 before the Nets stretched the lead to 98-82 on three-pointers by Irving and Durant.
Early in the fourth period, the Bucks recorded 93-103, but the Nets went for the kill with back-to-back hits from Durant and baskets from James and Harris for a 115-96 advantage.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a double-double of 34 points and 11 rebounds, while Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday added 19 and 17 markers, respectively, for the Bucks.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles Clippers to cruise to 104-97 Game 6 victory over Dallas Mavericks and tie their Western Conference first-round playoffs series at 3-3.
With the score drawn at 82-all, Leonard drained two mid-range jumpers while Paul George and Nicolas Batum scored inside hits to surge the Clippers ahead at 90-85.
The Mavs trimmed the deficit to 88-90, but Leonard drilled eight straight points, including back-to-back triples, for a 98-90 lead. Reggie Jackson’s free throws sealed the win for the Clippers.
Leonard top-scored with 45 points, Jackson had 25 points, while George dropped a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 115 – Durant 29, Irving 25, Harris 19, Griffin 18, James 12, Brown 6, Claxton 4, Shamet 2, Harden 0, T. Johnson 0, Luwawu-Cabarrot 0, A. Johnson 0, Chiozza 0, Perry 0.
MILWAUKEE 107 – G. Antetokounmpo 34, Lopez 19, Holiday 17, Middleton 13, Tucker 7, Portis 6, Forbes 5, Connaughton 3, Teague 2, T. Antetokounmpo 1.
QUARTERSCORES:
30-32, 63-61, 98-84, 115-107./PN
