Kyrie Irving ended the Indiana Pacers with two impossible layups
A lot went wrong with the Brooklyn Nets. But how the Nets finished this season shows just how strong they are. The Brooklyn Nets are not the typical play-in team, but everyone knew this. Had Kyrie Irving played the whole season and Kevin Durant stayed healthy, Brooklyn would be the East’s top team. Even without Kyrie Irving, the Nets briefly had the East’s top record.
Entering the season, the Brooklyn Nets had the highest odds to win the championship. The Nets were projected to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. Somehow, both teams managed to massively underperform. The Nets and Lakers, both, went through eleven game losing streaks. Both the Nets and Lakers ended up trading key players. Only the Nets salvaged it to still make the postseason.
Out West, the Suns, Grizzlies, Warriors, Mavericks, Jazz and Nuggets make up the leaders. The Lakers lost out on the play-in, with the Pelicans and Spurs pushing them out. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves and Clippers round out the West. In the East, the Heat, Celtics, Bucks, Sixers, Raptors, and Bulls lead. The play-in picture has the Nets needing one win over the Cavs. Meanwhile, the Hawks and Hornets will battle it out.
The play-in race was an essential tie, so every team needed to win out. Brooklyn lost the season series to Charlotte, so they wanted to avoid playing them. To close the season, the Nets played the Pacers. Kyrie Irving embarrassed the Pacers on his way to helping the Nets finish 44-38. They finished seventh and can win the spot with a win against Cleveland, tonight.
Kyrie Irving ended the Indiana Pacers with two impossible layups
