The Brooklyn Nets hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA last night.
The Nets managed to overcome the absence of Kevin Durant and the sudden withdrawal of Kyrie Irving, winning 122-109. Before the matchup between two contenders for the Eastern Conference finals, Irving apologized for missing the game for personal reasons, while Durant's absence was confirmed due to entering quarantine after coming into contact with a COVID-19 case.
The 76ers appeared to be the favorites with the absence of key players from the Nets, but coach Steve Nash's team clinched their fifth win in nine games. The 76ers recorded their second loss in nine games but still lead the Eastern Conference.
Despite the Nets' 12-point lead midway through the first quarter, the 76ers narrowed the score to 28-26 at the end of the quarter with a run of seven consecutive points. The visiting team began the second quarter where they left off and took a 4-point lead, but substitute Joe Harris's brilliance helped the Nets finish the first half leading 65-51.
The Nets extended their lead to 18 points, their largest margin of the game, during the third quarter. The home team withstood all of the 76ers' attempts to close the gap in the final quarter and emerged victorious. Harris topped the Nets' scoring with 28 points, followed by Caris LeVert with 22 points and 10 assists.
For the 76ers, Shake Milton was the top scorer with 24 points, followed by Cameroonian Joel Embiid with 20 points. Center Andre Drummond scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 94-90 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
It is noteworthy that the Grizzlies are at the bottom of the Western Conference with two wins in eight games, while the Cavaliers sit in eighth place in the East with five wins in nine games.
