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Decimated however not defeated.
COVID-19 couldn’t cease the Nets. Apparently neither may Toronto.
Regardless of taking part in with out 9 gamers, seven of them due to NBA health and safety protocols, the short-handed Nets gutted out a 131-129 additional time victory over the Raptors earlier than 17,325 Tuesday evening at Barclays Middle.
It was a sport they needed to win not as soon as however twice, rallying within the fourth quarter and once more of their first additional time of the season. They usually did it lowered to a threadbare eight lively gamers — the minimal allowable in an NBA sport.
The Nets have been with out All-Star James Harden, beginning middle LaMarcus Aldridge, Bruce Brown, DeAndre’ Bembry, Jevon Carter, James Johnson and Paul Millsap — all resulting from both a optimistic or inconclusive COVID-19 check. However they’d Kevin Durant and Patty Mills, and simply sufficient protection to get it accomplished.
Durant had a dominant triple-double with a game-high 34 factors, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, whereas Mills added 30 factors — together with 19 within the fourth quarter and additional time to spark each rallies.
Mills had 13 factors in an 18-4 fourth-quarter run, and hit an enormous 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation to power additional time. That’s the place the Nets received it.
Chris Boucher and Pascal Siakam sandwiched buckets round a Durant miss, and the Nets trailed 124-120 within the additional stanza. However back-to-back buckets by Durant pulled Brooklyn even. And after a Siakam miss, Durant hit yet one more midrange pull-up to place the Nets forward by a deuce.
A Mills baseline floater made it 128-124 with 2:08 left within the additional stanza.
Gary Trent Jr.’s layup reduce the lead in half, however the Nets held on. They pressured three straight Toronto misses. And after Durant missed a fadeaway, rookie David Duke Jr. hustled for an offensive rebound and bought fouled.
Duke went to the free-throw line and calmly sank each makes an attempt with 10.3 seconds remaining to present Brooklyn a 130-126 edge.
Fred VanVleet (31 factors) hit a deep 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to make it nervy. Mills sank one among two to go away the lead at two and Scottie Barnes’ final ditch 33-foot heave truly caught rim however missed.
The Japanese Convention-leading Nets (20-8) have a 2 ½-game lead each the defending champion Bucks and COVID-stricken Bulls. Chicago was scheduled to face the Pistons Tuesday as effectively, however that sport was postponed resulting from their very own outbreak.
The Nets can sympathize.
Brooklyn turned to kids like Nic Claxton (16 factors) and Kessler Edwards (17 factors, 10 boards).
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