The Brooklyn Nets suffered a disappointing 112-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, despite Kevin Durant's 40-point performance. The Nets, who were without Kyrie Irving and James Harden due to injuries, could not overcome Joel Embiid's dominant display and the 76ers' balanced attack.
The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than nine points. The Nets trailed by four at halftime but rallied to take a 91-90 lead early in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by Durant. However, the 76ers responded with a 13-2 run, sparked by Embiid's three-point play and Ben Simmons' steal and dunk. The Nets cut the deficit to three with 1:05 left, but Tobias Harris sealed the win for the 76ers with a jumper and two free throws.
Embiid, the two-time NBA scoring champion, was quite offensively, going 6 of 11 from the floor, but he did just about everything else. The MVP finalist had 19 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Harris added 24 points and eight rebounds, while Simmons had 16 points, eight assists and six steals. The 76ers also got contributions from their bench, with Shake Milton scoring 15 points and Dwight Howard grabbing 11 rebounds.
Durant was sensational for the Nets, shooting 14 of 20 from the field and 10 of 11 from the line. He also had seven rebounds and six assists. However, he did not get much help from his teammates, who combined for only 67 points on 38.5% shooting. Joe Harris was the only other Net in double figures with 14 points. Blake Griffin had nine points and eight rebounds in his first start for the Nets.
The loss dropped the Nets to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, one game behind the third-place Milwaukee Bucks and three games behind the first-place 76ers. The Nets have lost four of their last five games and have struggled to find consistency with their star trio missing time. The Nets have only played seven games with Durant, Irving and Harden together this season.
The win improved the 76ers' record to 54-28, tying them with the Boston Celtics for the best record in the East. The 76ers have won two straight games and have looked impressive since Embiid returned from a knee injury that sidelined him for 10 games. The 76ers have a balanced roster that can score, defend and rebound at a high level. They also have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, as they have the NBA's best home record at 35-6.
The Nets and the 76ers could meet again in the second round of the playoffs if they both advance past their first-round opponents. The Nets will face the fifth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, who lost their regular-season finale to the LA Lakers on Saturday night. The Grizzlies have a dynamic young duo in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. but lack playoff experience and depth. The Lakers clinched the fourth seed and home-court advantage against the Grizzlies with their win.
The 76ers will face the eighth-seeded Miami Heat, who beat the Bucks on Saturday night to secure their spot in the postseason. The Heat is the defending Eastern Conference champions and have a veteran core led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The Heat also have a proven coach in Erik Spoelstra and a gritty defensive identity. However, they have been inconsistent this season and have struggled with injuries and COVID-19 protocols.
The Nets and the 76ers are both title contenders in a wide-open East, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. The Nets have arguably the most potent offensive trio in NBA history, but they have questions about their defence, health and chemistry. The 76ers have a dominant big man in Embiid, a versatile playmaker in Simmons and a deep supporting cast, but they have doubts about their shooting, clutch performance and playoff history.
The game on Monday night was a potential preview of an epic playoff series between two rivals who do not like each other very much. The 76ers showed that they can match up well with the Nets even without their best scorer having a big night. The Nets showed that they can compete with the 76ers even without two of their stars playing. Both teams will need to be at their best if they want to reach their ultimate goal of winning a championship.