The fight will have been tough, but brooklyn managed to get away with getting off on the right foot, after his setback conceded to Indiana. In front of Portlandthem net could count on a Seth Curry precious in the final, with 13 of his 29 points scored in the last act.
The Blazers were not intimidated by the good start of the tandem Kevin Durant – Nic Claxton or the 2/2 at 3-pts of this same Curry off the bench. Relegated to -7 (31-24), after a new missile from the brother of the double MVP, the troops of Chauncey Billups very quickly resurfaced at the start of the second quarter, with a 13-4.
The opportunity for Jerami Grant (29 points, 5 assists) to heat up and Nassir Little to bring the score to 43-37, after a 2+1. The Kevin Durant-Seth Curry Trio Kyrie Irving (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) then had to respond from afar, to rebalance the debates until the break (58-57).
The two teams then struggled to decide after the break. Brooklyn went back to +6, with a 3+1 from Joe Harris (80-74), but Portland responded again in stride, relying on the outside address of Justise Winslow then Anfernee Simons, to return to – 1 with eleven minutes remaining (84-83).
The last run of the locals will finally be the right one, instigated by a Seth Curry “in the zone”. Kevin Durant (31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) on the bench, the rear has thus taken its responsibilities, by registering a layup then three baskets at 3-pts, in order to offer a +9 to his team, six minutes from time (96-87).
Finally, it was the inevitable Kevin Durant who drove the nail home from afar, on a service from… Seth Curry of course, and Brooklyn was able to secure its tenth victory of the season (111-97).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Seth Curry, the X factor. It barely took more than three minutes for a hooked encounter to finally tip to one side. Three minutes, only, during which Seth Curry found a way to plant a double-step and three baskets at 3-pts, to feed a 12-4 and put Portland KO …
– The Nets offense continues to take shape. And even to progress, with regard to the offensive game developed by Brooklyn on this match. The options are thus varied behind Kyrie Irving and especially Kevin Durant, also well used in a two-man game with Nic Claxton. Joe Harris didn’t put his shots, but he inherited good positions, while Seth Curry put his shots, and that was enough to make the difference. All that was missing was a slightly more present Ben Simmons for the evening to be perfect, but 27 assists for only 7 lost balls is a pretty good ratio.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Seth Curry. The player who rocked this game. The rear got into shape in the first quarter, with three successful 3-point baskets (in four attempts). But what about his final, all in confidence, to finish with his points record with the Nets. All against a franchise in which he evolved, in 2018/19.
✅ Kevin Durant. “KD” in the text, elegant and effective, with a dose of “clutchitude”, to register the 3-point basket which definitively seals the fate of the match. As a bonus, he finishes with the best +/- of his team: +21…
⛔️ Anfernee Simons. An encouraging start to the match, then less and less influence as the game progressed. We could expect more, after his 38-point game against the Knicks…
⛔️ Ben Simons. Three shots attempted in 34 minutes (for 2 small points), proof that he was “content” to take rebounds (12), to make assists (8) and to defend (3 interceptions). However, the Australian also remained on a good streak, with six straight games at 11 points and more.
THE FOLLOWING
Brooklyn (10-11): the Nets will host the Magic on Monday (1:30 a.m.).
Portland (11-9): the Blazers will host the Clippers on Tuesday (4 a.m.).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1zU_p8zIZw
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