Brooklyn Nets flying high with third win in row

Backcourt whiz Kyrie Irving was a dismal 1-for-8 from the field but the other half of the one-two punch, Kevin Durant, was right on target with the game-high 31 points to bring the surging Brooklyn Nets Friday night‘s huge fourth quarter run and a 118-107 big win over the visiting Cleveland Cavileers to nail down the Eastern Conference seventh place in the National Basketball Association as the regular season winds down.

It was the third straight triumph for Brooklyn as it took the court tied with Cleveland at 43-38, but it claimed the tiebreaker and needs to turn back the Indiana Pacers at home in Sunday’s final game before the playoffs to clinch home court for the one-game playoff, and a victory over the No. 8 seed will automatically advance it to the playoff series against the 2nd-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.

From there the loser of the 7-8 game has a second shot at the postseason by disposing of the survivor of the 9-10 contest on Friday.

Durant, a top of the heap candidate as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, displayed his usual big game by scrubbing the boards for nine rebounds, handing out seven assists, and blocking three shots. Irving, in turn, did finish with 18 points, dished out eight assists and pulled down six rebounds to go with four steals.

The Nets led 34-19 after one quarter at Barclay Center, 62-54 at halftime, trailed 86-83 after three quarters, but took charge by outscoring the Cavs, 35-19, in the final quarter. Brooklyn was also huge from the foul line in converting 20 of 21 freebies.

The Nets’ Bruce Brown had a big night, tossing in 18 points, grabbing 10 boards, and delivering eight assists. Andre Drummond, in the trade with the Philadelphia 76ers that also brought Seth Curry and Ben Simmons, and sent their once third superstar James Harden to the Sixers, came away with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and had the game-high dozen boards as Brooklyn dominated 45-31. Curry added 12 points.

In Washington, the New York Knicks’ non-playoff season is almost over but they did overwhelm the Wizards, 114-92, Friday night.