Kristian Winfield: Kyrie says he doesn’t want to use Ramadan as an excuse for his play. “I’ve just gotta do better. I don’t wanna sit up here and say (anything). I’ve just gotta do better.”
Source: Twitter @Krisplashed
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
Kyrie has called a team meeting at a NJ dispensary today… – 1:19 AM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“I don’t want to be too cliche but, I don’t have a lot of answers for how you make up time from Oct. until now.”
-Kyrie Irving was asked if he agrees with Blake Griffin’s assessment the #nets lacked ‘spirit’ coming into Game 3. pic.twitter.com/yqqIs6GTXl – 1:19 AM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Radio Roulette is LIVE @UnderdogFantasy
• Raptors survive Embiideor
• Mitchell & Gobert, Stockton & Malone
• Celtics solitary confinement of KD/Kyrie
• Wolves W
• Minnesota Court-invaders
• Best security guard ever?
• WeWork vs. Masa
Join us!⬇️
youtube.com/watch?v=y_G9-m… – 1:17 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
“I feel like we’re a complete team.”
As Jayson Tatum and the Celtics push the Brooklyn Nets to the brink by once again shutting KD and Kyrie down, they are looking completely unbeatable.
theathletic.com/3268336/2022/0… – 1:09 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Kyrie Irving didn’t sound too confident in the Nets comeback chances when he refused to even compare Brooklyn’s situation to his 3-1 series comeback with the Cavs masslive.com/celtics/2022/0… – 11:51 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
It was the biggest game KD and Kyrie ever played as teammates, the weight of a Brooklyn experiment hanging in the balance.
And like a 39-year-old Brooklyn hipster in a basement apartment with a Harvard degree, they underachieved.
A sad way to go out.
nydailynews.com/sports/basketb… – 11:25 PM
Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Kyrie took 17 shots tonight…
18 if you count this one at Steve Nash. pic.twitter.com/cfCMU5w8rH – 11:23 PM
Story continues
Alvaro Martin @AlvaroNBAMartin
El caso de Kyrie Irving me recuerda la trama de la película ‘Al diablo con el diablo’ (Bedazzled). Se te concede tu sueño, pero siempre con complicaciones. pic.twitter.com/FCXeJVoBpU – 11:12 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Jaylen Brown on the Celtics defense on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving: “We’re just mixing it up. Trying to make things difficult. Those guys are the best players in the world. We’re just trying to work, make it tough on them and live with the results.” – 11:09 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
I’ve thought of about 10 different ways to phrase my thoughts on Kyrie Irving saying the Nets are a “new team” and “haven’t had time to gel”, while the Celtics have.
Boston added 7 new players since trade deadline day. They changed basically half of their roster.
C’mon man. – 10:57 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
so many different accomplishments about this Celtics defense to celebrate but holding Kyrie & KD to 5 total shot ATTEMPTS in the 4th quarter stands above the rest. – 10:50 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
I told him how I felt he told me how he felt that’s what brothers do. Kyrie Irving was asked about the inverted pick and roll in the baseline where he and KD appeared frustrated. Downplayed anything more than basic in game frustration. – 10:48 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving refers to a law of averages and a cold spell that can go the other way in a hurry with Regards to Durants shooting struggles. – 10:46 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie: “You can put it on me for doing more and holding guys accountable.” – 10:43 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving says you can put responsibility on him and he needs to be better. – 10:43 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie: “I don’t wanna be cliche but I don’t know how you make up time from October to now.” – 10:42 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving says he would love to see more of what Blake Griffin brought. Says he respects Blakes feeling they didn’t have the right spirit. But Irving points to the need to jell. – 10:42 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving says his legs feel OK and he has no excuses related to his journey with God when asked about playing while fasting for Ramadan. – 10:41 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie says he doesn’t want to use Ramadan as an excuse for his play. “I’ve just gotta do better. I don’t wanna sit up here and say (anything). I’ve just gotta do better.” – 10:41 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
“Different situation brother.”
-Kyrie Irving was asked about coming back from 3-1 with the Cavs in the NBA finals In 2016. – 10:39 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Kyrie Irving thinks the frustrating part is the issues within their control. Turnovers, offensive boards, etc. – 10:38 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Nash: “Kevin’s had to play 40+ minutes for 5-6 weeks after missing 6-7 weeks” just to qualify for the playoffs…
Can’t help but wonder how this season might have been different for Brooklyn had Kyrie not refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19
pic.twitter.com/DUg3rBgzD7 – 10:29 PM
Rick Noland @RickNoland
Watching Kyrie lose never gets old – 10:26 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are 9-9 (.500) this season without James Harden. – 10:23 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Steve Nash agreed w/idea that Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving have been fatigued lately. Nash noted Nets needed Durant to play 40 min a night for several weeks to make playoffs. And he noted Irving has had to play a lot while fasting during Ramadan. “I feel for them,” Nash said. – 10:22 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Udoka on Bruce Brown scoring: “That’s something we’ll live over Kyrie and Durant (scoring).”
#Celtics know they have to give up something, if Brown’s taking shot attempts from KD and Kyrie, BOS will take it. – 10:20 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ime Udoka on Bruce Brown scoring: “You can’t stop everything. We have to live with something and that’s what we’ll live with over Kyrie and Durant.” – 10:20 PM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Ime Udoka on the nights for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving: “If they have other guys shooting the most shots or scoring the most points, I feel like we’re in good shape.” – 10:19 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Jayson Tatum really went into Brooklyn and outscored KD/Kyrie combined 39-32 – 10:17 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Combined stats over Games 2 and 3 (the two most important games of the #Nets season):
Bruce Brown: 49 points on 31 FGA
Kevin Durant: 43 points on 28 FGA
Kyrie Irving: 26 points on 30 FGA
Brown: 16 rebounds
Durant: 12 rebounds
Irving: 12 rebounds – 10:15 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
“They both got to be tired. Kyrie (Irving) is fasting — It’s can’t be easy … I feel for them.”
⁃Steve Nash on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant – 10:12 PM
Anthony Puccio @APOOCH
Pretty miserable season for the Nets. Bunch of false hope and waiting … for this. On pace for a first round exit in year 2 of KD and Kyrie. – 10:08 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics win 109-103. Lead series 3-0.
Tatum – 39/5/6, 5 steals
Brown – 23/4/5
Smart – 14/3/6
Pritchard – 10 points
Celtics – 50% FGs
Celtics – 12-39 3Ps
Celtics – 13 steals
Brown – 26/8/3
Durant – 16/8/8
Irving – 16 points
Nets – 50.6% FGs
Nets – 12-29 3Ps
Nets – 21 turnovers – 10:03 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Nets Scoring G2-3 vs BOS
Bruce Brown … 49 points
Kevin Durant … 43 points
Kyrie Irving …… 26 points – 10:03 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics lead most of the way, hold on for a 109-103 win over the #Nets, lead series 3-0. Tatum 39, Brown 23, Smart 14, Pritchard 10; B. Brown 26, Irving 16, Durant 16, Claxton 13, Mills 12. – 10:02 PM
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops
The Boston Celtics are a game away from a sweep over Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. – 10:01 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
46 minutes for Durant. 43 for Kyrie. There are many reasons the Nets are now down 3-0 in this series. But this is one of them. – 10:01 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Final: Celtics beat the Nets 109-103. Boston leads the series 3-0. Bruce Brown scored 26 points in 40 minutes to lead Brooklyn. Robert Williams return was moot and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined to shoot 12-for-28 from the field. Game 4 is Monday. Ben Simmons might play. – 10:00 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
FINAL: Nets 103, Celtics 109
Bruce Brown (26 PTS), Kevin Durant (16 PTS) , Kyrie Irving (16 PTS) & the Nets are down bad. They now trail the series 3-0 after a Jayson Tatum (39 PTS) eruption. With Ben Simmons’ return on the horizon, Brooklyn may have 1 more chance to come back. – 10:00 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie now just 6-for-17 from the field and 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Fans streaming towards the exits at Barlcays as some “Let’s Go Celtics” chants start to break out. – 9:55 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Kyrie Irving is 6-of-17 in Game 3. – 9:54 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
I have seen this Kyrie Irving show before. – 9:54 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Nets trail BOS by 15 with 3 minutes to play in Game 3.
Combined FGAs for Bruce Brown & Nic Claxton tonight, thus far: 28
Combined FGAs for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving: 28 – 9:54 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Irving with the Trae Young Memorial early-clock 13-point shot attempt. Didn’t go better for him than it has for most of Trae’s. – 9:53 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
Down 11 and Kyrie takes an early-clock pullup 30-footer? That ain’t it. – 9:52 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jayson Tatum has now outscored Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined tonight. – 9:43 PM
Abby Chin @tvabby
Kyrie checks back in with 5 fouls, 6L29 to go. #Celtics up 9. – 9:42 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Kyrie returns and so does Blake Griffin. #Celtics #Nets – 9:42 PM
Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Jaylen Brown is doing the stuff we thought KD and Kyrie were gonna do. Good lord – 9:40 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
The Nets have had a surge from Blake Griffin’s energy and 3-point shooter — but they still trail, 93-84, with 6:29 to go in the 4th quarter. Boston has had an answer for every Brooklyn basket, and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving each only have 14 points. – 9:40 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie just picked up his 5th foul with 10:27 left in regulation. He is just 5-for-13 from the field in 37 minutes. Nash just plugged Dragic back in the game. Kyrie is struggling for the second game in a row. – 9:34 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Celtics should be targeting Kyrie for rest of this game with him having 5 fouls. He’ll be avoiding contact at all costs. – 9:34 PM
Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Kyrie has five fouls with a little over 10 minutes left in fourth quarter. – 9:33 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Kyrie picks up his 5th foul. As if they weren’t targeting him enough, now I’d expect the Celtics to go after him every trip – 9:33 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
5 fouls on Kyrie Irving. – 9:33 PM
Abby Chin @tvabby
Thats 5 fouls for Kyrie with 10 minutes to go! – 9:33 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Fifth foul on Kyrie. #Celtics #Nets – 9:32 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie’s up to 5 fouls. – 9:32 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Key takeaways as Boston takes 81-72 lead into 4Q
*Bruce Brown (23 pts) continues to be Brooklyn’s best player.
* Marcus Smart transition 3-pointer near the end of the 3Q, a killer for BKN.
*KD/Kyrie=26 pts combined/Jayson Tatum=25 – 9:31 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Durant/Kyrie have sat a total of three minutes combined. – 9:30 PM
John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
Brooklyn was on a run, Griffin stayed in front of Jaylen Brown … & Irving let Smart slide by him for an offensive rebound. – 9:29 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
Kyrie Irving is an offensive wizard. But he does a wholllllleeee lot of harmful things to his own team. Missed box outs. Blown defensive assignments. Slow rotations. Weak at the point of attack on defense. – 9:29 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 81-72 after three
Tatum – 25 points, 5 steals
Brown – 14 points
Smart – 12 points
Pritchard – 10 points
Celtics – 50.8% FGs
Celtics – 9-30 3Ps
Celtics – 11 TOs
Brown – 23 points
Irving – 14 points
Claxton – 13 points
Nets – 49.2% FGs
Nets – 6-20 3Ps
Nets – 14 TOs – 9:28 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
End of the third quarter: Nets trail the Celtics 81-72. KD has 12 points, Kyrie has 14, Bruce Brown has 23. Every time Nets cut the deficit to one-possession, Boston answers. Do they have a run left in them? – 9:27 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Assuming we’re going to see Kyrie play 47 mins and KD 46 tonight. They’re on 35 and 34 right now, doubt they sit in this desperation game. – 9:27 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
The Nets are playing the Celtics like they are a team you can create mismatches with on simple pick-and-rolls. You can’t. Smart switches on KD, Tatum on Irving, they are just as tough defensively. The offensive strategy is insane. – 9:27 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Wow, #Celtics score 6 pts in the final 48 seconds and lead #Nets 81-72 after 3Q. Tatum 25, J. Brown 14, Smart 12, Pritchard 10; B. Brown 23, Irving 14, Claxton 13, Durant 12. – 9:27 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Taking the desperation from the Nets and surviving. 81-72 after 3. One quarter left for KD and Kyrie, essentially – 9:27 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
End of 3rd QTR: Nets 72, Celtics 81
Bruce Brown (23 PTS), Kyrie Irving (14 PTS), Kevin Durant (12 PTS) & the Nets are on the brink of seeing their season go down the drain. The Celtics are 12 minutes away from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series unless Brooklyn turns up. – 9:26 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
This is Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s biggest game together in the NBA. They’ve left themselves one quarter to make sure it’s not a disaster. – 9:26 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Pathetic missed boxout by Irving on Smart after they got a huge stop. – 9:26 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
A Blake Griffin sighting late in the 3rd. An adjustment.
Let’s see how long Nash goes with this lineup: KD, Kyrie, Mills, Griffin and Brown. – 9:25 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Spike Lee is heating up on the sidelines by the Celtics bench. Did the charge call after that charge, started clapping at Kyrie. He’s in a Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers jersey and rooting for the Nets like he’s still banned at MSG. – 9:24 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Something to watch: Kyrie Irving and Bruce Brown both have four fouls on them late in the third. – 9:16 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Kyrie just passes it off with Theis on him so Curry could try to penetrate against Smart? – 9:12 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Irving gets Theis on him, and immediately gets off the ball without activating the defense to get the ball to……Bruce Brown guarded 1 on 1 by Marcus Smart. – 9:11 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Four fouls on Kyrie Irving. – 9:11 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
I’d put that turnover on Kyrie. Slip is there, no reason to fade into the corner to stand 3 feet away from KD who already had the ball. – 9:07 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Kyrie having an extended conversation with a frustrated Kevin Durant after that turnover, trying to encourage him – 9:07 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Celtics fans travel but their energy for Kyrie Irving doesn’t. – 9:05 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
I know the focus is on KD not getting shots, but Kyrie is 4-for-11, 0-for-5 from 3, so not exactly taking the pressure off. Bruce Brown is the only one lifting the Nets and Boston will live with that. – 8:50 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
It’s a must-win for the Nets, so I’d expect them to go all out in the second half.
Little to no rest for KD and Kyrie.
Claxton getting a bunch of time.
No more three small guard lineups that Boston keeps eating up. – 8:48 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Celtics lead 53-50 at the half.
*Takeaways: Nic Claxton (10 pts) big off the Brooklyn bench w/2nd chance pts.
* Payton Pritchard (10 pts in 8 min) provided good play in limited minutes.
* Bruce Brown (16 pts) steady X-factor.
*KD/Kyrie 17 pts combined (7/16 shooting) – 8:42 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 53-50 at the half
Tatum – 12 points, 3 steals
Pritchard – 10 points
Brown – 8 points
Smart – 8 points
Celtics – 53.8% FGs
Celtics – 7-21 3Ps
Celtics – 7 TOs
Brown – 16 points
Irving – 10 points
Claxton – 10 points
Nets – 50% FGs
Nets – 4-15 3Ps
Nets – 9 ORs – 8:41 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
The #Nets claw within 53-50 at the break after trailing by as much as a dozen. Bruce Brown has 16, Kyrie Irving and Nic Claxton added ten, while KD has a quiet seven. – 8:40 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Halftime: Celtics lead the Nets 53-50. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have combined for 17 points on 7-for-16 shooting. Bruce Brown as 16, Claxton has 10. Role players continue to answer the call. Goran Dragic played just five minutes. Nets reserves played 27 amongst three players – 8:40 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics lead #Nets 53-50 at half. Tatum 12, Pritchard 10, J. Brown 8, Smart 8, GWilliams 7; B. Brown 16, Irving 10, Claxton 10, Durant 7. – 8:40 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
HALF: Nets 50, Celtics 53
Bruce Brown (16 PTS), Kyrie Irving (10 PTS) & the Nets can’t contain the Celtics’ offense. If this continues, Boston will take full control of the game. Brooklyn has to also find a way to get Kevin Durant (7 PTS) more involved too. – 8:38 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Kyrie has come very close to getting a fourth foul here in the first half twice – Celtic look like they’re hunting it. – 8:35 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Kyrie is all over a 10-4 run here for Brooklyn. 3 assists, a steal, and a bucket, to cut this to a 5 point Boston lead – 8:33 PM
Abby Chin @tvabby
That’s 3 fouls on Kyrie Irving with 3:57 left to play in the 2nd quarter. Steve Nash sticks with him on the floor. – 8:29 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Kyrie Irving just picked up his third personal foul, with 4:10 to play in the second quarter. And Steve Nash decides to keep him on the floor and brings Patty Mills in for Seth Curry. Oh, Ok. that makes (no) sense. – 8:29 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
3 fouls on Kyrie – 8:29 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Three fouls on Kyrie Irving. – 8:28 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Grant Williams has done so much better than expected on switches onto Kyrie. Feels like he should be roasted every time that happens and he just hangs tight – 8:28 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
This was an absurd pass by Kyrie Irving. Left-handed, half the length of the court, a through ball between two Celtics defenders with the spin on it to set up Bruce Brown for a layup pic.twitter.com/OBpvYUdGZN – 8:27 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Kyrie was terrific in Game 1 — carried the Nets all day offensively.
He is now 7-for-22 since then and has had very little impact. – 8:26 PM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Robert Williams, still Robert Williams. Throws down a dunk on Andre Drummond’s head, then does a pretty good job sticking with Kyrie Irving downhill. – 8:22 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Looked like Kevin Durant was heading to the table before that timeout. If so, he got 2:06 of rest. Plus a bit more actual rest for the end of quarter timeout and this timeout now.
Kyrie Irving went 11 of the 12 first quarter minutes too. – 8:20 PM
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Kevin Durant plays the entire 1Q and Kyrie Irving 11 minutes.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo
Durant and Irving are the only players since 3/23 to play 500+ minutes.
Keep an eye on fatigue with both players. – 8:14 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Celtics lead 30-25 after 1Q:
Stars: Jayson Tatum 12 pts; Kyrie Irving 8 pts
Studs: Bruce Brown 10 pts; Marcus Smart 6 pts, 3 asts – 8:13 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 30-25 after one
Tatum – 12 points
Smart – 6 points
Brown – 4 points
Theis – 4 points
Celtics – 52.4% FGs
Celtics – 4-12 threes
Celtics – 2 turnovers
Brown – 10 points
Irving – 8 points
Durant – 5 points
Nets – 50% FGs
Nets – 3-8 threes
Nets – 4 turnovers – 8:12 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Durant and Irving look like they wanted a few more calls on jumpers that 1st quarter. How physical the Celtics were permitted to play in Boston was a big edge for Green. If they can continue in Brooklyn it could be curtains. – 8:11 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics lead #Nets 30-25 after 1Q. Tatum 12, Smart 6, J. Brown 4, Theis 4; B. Brown 10, Irving 8, Durant 5. – 8:10 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Derrick White’s close outs are unreal. He flies out to the shooter, lands in front of them perfectly on balance, and then completely walls off Kyrie Irving without hacking. Hardly anyone in the league who can do it at that level. – 8:10 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
End of 1st QTR: Nets 25, Celtics 30
Bruce Brown (10 PTS, 2 3PM), Kyrie Irving (6 PTS) & the Nets are in a close one. Brooklyn is struggling to get stops with Boston shooting over 50%. It’s going to take heart to get this win. – 8:10 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Pritchard checks in and Steve Nash immediately reinserts Kyrie Irving – 8:07 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Pretty dumb foul by Kyrie there in the penality. – 8:03 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
After a so-so start, things have picked up quickly for both teams. KD drained a jumper, Kyrie got a rare basket over Marcus Smart, Tatum has 8 pts in 6 minutes and Daniel Theis threw down a nasty dunk to put Boston ahead 15-14 with 6:03 to play in the first quarter. – 7:58 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Bruce Brown is having another solid start for the Nets. He’s already got seven points and is giving the offense the type of early boost it needed. Kyrie has got to play better to help Durant — but somebody else has got to continually help provide an offensive safety valve. – 7:54 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
#Net lead 12-5 after an energized start. Bruce Brown with seven quick points. (The Irving putback was waved off in Secaucus, and the Marcus Smart 3 still isn’t showing up on some apps, but Brooklyn leads by seven). #Celtics – 7:51 PM
Jonah Ballow @jonahballow
Good offensive adjustments thus far by Nets. Getting Durant off ball and screening to get Kyrie better matchups or the double off the switching. – 7:50 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The Kyrie Irving basket on the tip-in to open the scoring was waved off. – 7:49 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Udoka spoke before the game about still trying to stop Durant and Irving and make others beat them — so I suspect they will live again with the fast Bruce Brown start. – 7:48 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Deafening cheers in support of Kyrie Irving in #Nets intros pic.twitter.com/7eHbhV31T7 – 7:42 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
A lot of noise as Kyrie Irving is introduced last. Given the amount of green in the crowd, don’t think they were all cheers. – 7:40 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Nets at Celtics at Nets – Barclay’s Center – April 23, 2022 – Game 3 Starters
Boston – Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Theis
Brooklyn – Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Bruce Brown, Kevin Durant, Andre Drummond
OUT: Boston: None Brooklyn: Simmons, Harris pic.twitter.com/sgoNkwKlJM – 7:11 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Nets starters for Game 3: Irving, Curry, Durant, Brown and Drummond – 7:02 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Nets starters
Irving, Curry, Durant, Brown and Drummond – 7:02 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics starters tonight:
Daniel Theis
Al Horford
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
Nets starters:
Andre Drummond
Kevin Durant
Bruce Brown
Seth Curry
Kyrie Irving – 7:01 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
The Nets’ Starters vs. the Celtics:
👴🏾Kyrie Irving
💦Seth Curry
🔒Bruce Brown
💲Kevin Durant
🦍Andre Drummond – 7:01 PM
Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
You have to figure the Nets are going to make a major push at some point tonight. Therefore, I think the biggest key for Boston in Game 3 is taking a punch and not losing their $#!+.
For Brooklyn, it’s getting a few catch-and-shoot 3s from Kyrie to space the floor for KD. – 5:54 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
New on BSJ: Video Breakdown – The simple Celtics adjustment (and great defensive effort) that kept Kyrie Irving in check in Game 2 bostonsportsjournal.com/2022/04/23/vid… – 10:04 AM
More on this storyline
Nick Friedell: Kyrie: “No time to point fingers … time to go home and put the bulletproof vest on.” -via Twitter @NickFriedell / April 24, 2022
Ben Golliver: Nets’ Kyrie Irving on Game 3 loss to Celtics: “You could put in on me, in terms of playing better, controlling the game better, controlling our possessions, being more in a stance, not turning the ball over as much. I had five fouls tonight. You could put it on me.” pic.twitter.com/RCptw6GoiS -via Twitter @BenGolliver / April 24, 2022
The death knell may have sounded on the Nets’ disappointing season — killed by Kevin Durant’s surprising struggles and their porous defense. The Nets lost, 109-103, in Game 3 of its first-round series against the Celtics before 18,175 at Barclays Center. The preseason title favorites now are just a loss away from an embarrassing first-round exit. “It’s a sh–ty game. Sh–ity game,” a despondent Durant said before dropping the microphone and ending his press conference with the same energy the Nets may have ended their playoffs. -via Brian Lewis @ New York Post / April 24, 2022
