The Brookyln Nets got a game high 32 points from Kevin Durant, and outscored the Boston Celtics 57-40 in the second half Saturday night to take Game 1 of an Eastern Conference First Round series 104-93 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Boston got off to a good start, going up 13-4 just over four minutes in on a Jayson Tatum jumper. The C’s led 21-16 after the opening 12 minutes. The guests had their biggest lead of the game when Jabari Parker knocked in a three-pointer to make it 32-20 early in the second quarter. Brooklyn took a timeout and came back with an 8-0 run, but Boston still led 53-47 at halftime.
James Harden hit a three-pointer early in the third quarter to give the Nets their first lead since the games opening moments. They would lead by as many as nine in the period, and took a five point advantage to the fourth. The Celtics were still within three at 82-79 with 7:27 to play when Parker hit a pair of free throws, but the hosts pulled away using a 17-3 spurt with 11 of those points by Kyrie Irving.
Tatum led Boston with 22 points and five assists. Marcus Smart had 17 points and five assists, and Kemba Walker added 15 points. Also getting into double figures was Rob Williams III with 11 points, nine rebounds, and nine blocks and Evan Fournier with 10 points and six rebounds. Durant added 12 rebounds to his point total for the double double. Irving finished with 29 points and six rebounds, and Harden had 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals. Brookyln has now won all five meetings between the teams this season. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. in Brookyln.
