By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Brooklyn Nets started the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Milwaukee Bucks with a 115-107 victory, though it came at the price of losing James Harden with a right hamstring injury which he suffered less than a minute into the game.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving tried to make up for Harden’s loss and lifted the Nets with 29 and 25 points respectively, while Joe Harris contributed 19 points and Blake Griffin posted a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Durant recognized that Harden’s unfortunate exit took a toll on the team, especially in such an opener. “We try not to be too emotional out there, but losing one of your leaders like that on the first play of the game, we had to regroup for a couple of minutes and figure out what was next, but I think the coaches, the coaching staff did a great job of moving forward,” he mentioned post-game. “Guys came in and just tried to play extremely hard. We didn’t care about anything else but playing and executing the game plan and just leaving it all out there.”
With Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals taking place Monday, the Bucks need to regroup, as reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo said after the game: “We’ve got to guard defensively together, especially against this team”.
Giannis had 34 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who also got 19 points from Brook Lopez and 17 points, 9 rebounds from Jrue Holiday, while Khris Middleton posted 13 points and 13 rebounds.
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