MANILA – Brooklyn Nets overpowered Milwaukee Bucks from start to finish for a 125-86 triumph in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Kevin Durant spearheaded the offense with 32 points, including four three-point conversions, while Kyrie Irving drilled 22 markers, which powered the Nets to seize a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven series.
Joe Harris and Bruce Brown have 13 markers each, while Mike James tallied 10 for the Nets, which played without James Harden due to a right hamstring injury.
The Nets started the rampage via consecutive baskets from Durant for a 36-19 edge. The lead widened in the second period behind hits from Brown and Durant for a 65-41 halftime spread.
Brooklyn continued its offensive dominance in the second half, courtesy of Irving, Harris, James, and Landry Shamet. The gap reached its largest at 123-74 on a triple by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot.
Giannis Antetokounmpo top-scored for the Bucks with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday chipped in 17 and 13 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Suns rallied in the second half to oust the Denver Nuggets, 122-105, in Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semifinals series.
Down 70-60 midway in the third quarter, the Suns banked on conversions by Mikal Bridges and DeAndre Ayton to take a 74-73 lead and widened it to 88-79, heading to the fourth.
Phoenix went for the kill in the fourth period, with Chris Paul converting consecutive hits as the lead climbed to 114-97 after a three-point shot by Jae Crowder.
Bridges garnered 23 points, Paul and Devin Booker have 21 markers each, while Ayton had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 125 – Durant 32, Irving 22, Harris 13, Brown 13, James 10, Shamet 9, Perry 8, Griffin 7, Claxton 4, Luwawu-Cabarrot 3, T. Johnson 2, A. Johnson 2, Chiozza 0.
MILWAUKEE 86 – G. Antetokounmpo 18, Middleton 17, Holiday 13, Lopez 10, Forbes 10, Jackson 6, Bryant 6, Tucker 2, T. Antetokounmpo 2, Portis 2, Teague 0, Connaughton 0, Merrill 0, Diakite 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
36-19, 65-41, 95-65, 125-86./PN
