Nets surge early for easy Game 2 win over Celtics

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 25: Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after making a three-pointer during the first half of Game Two of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on May 25, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Kevin Durant scored 26 points, Joe Harris added 25 as the Brooklyn Nets seized control early and cruised to a 130-108 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

The second-seeded Nets lead the series 2-0 with Game 3 on Friday in Boston.

Durant added eight rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and made 8 of 12 shots as the Nets shot 52.3 percent and hit 17 3-pointers. The sharp-shooting Nets missed only one free throw, going 21-for-22 in the victory.

Harris hit seven of 10 3-point tries to tie the franchise record for 3-pointers in a playoff game set by Deron Williams in 2015.

James Harden contributed 20 points and seven of Brooklyn’s 31 assists. Former Celtic Kyrie Irving finished with 15 and Blake Griffin chipped in 11 as no Brooklyn starter played more than 29 minutes.

Marcus Smart led the Celtics with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and Kemba Walker added 17. Evan Fournier contributed 16 points and Tristan Thompson finished with 15 and 11 boards as Boston shot 42.4 percent and allowed 26 points off 17 turnovers.

The Celtics received a quiet game from Jayson Tatum, who was held to nine points on 3-for-12 shooting. He is shooting 9 of 32 from the field in the series and exited after getting poked in the right eye during the third quarter.

After a sluggish start to their 104-93 win in Game 1 on Saturday, the Nets dominated from the outset and led by double digits for the final 37:10.

Brooklyn took control by ripping off 15 straight points in a span of 2:57 to take a 29-13 lead on a 20-footer by Jeff Green with 4:57 remaining. Green’s shot occurred after Harris hit three 3-pointers in a span of 59 seconds and the run helped the Nets get a 40-26 lead through the opening quarter.

Harden’s four-point play gave the Nets their first 20-point lead less than two minutes into the second. When Harris hit his sixth 3-pointer, Brooklyn held a 61-36 lead at the 4:59 mark and it took a 71-47 lead by halftime.

Harris made his seventh 3-pointer midway through the third and Brooklyn held a 109-82 lead into the final period.

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