NBA Playoffs: Durant makes history as the Nets take the series back from the Bucks in Game 5
Brooklyn, New York – The Brooklyn Nets are back on top in the Eastern Conference semifinals after gutting out a big win over the Milwaukee Bucks in game five.
Kevin Durant (32) put in a historic performance, leading his Nets to a 114-108 win over the Bucks to reclaim the series lead on Tuesday night. Durant literally didn’t stop, playing all 48 minutes, putting up a triple-double, and making history in the process.
The Nets also welcomed back one of their superstars, James Harden, who was coming back from a hamstring injury suffered at the beginning of the series. Harden’s return helped to bolster a Nets team that just suffered another crushing blow when Kyrie Irving suffered an ankle injury in Game 4. Brooklyn might’ve been on the brink of elimination after Tuesday night, if not for Durant’s spectacular heroics.
He finished the game with a whopping 49 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to hit this kind of numbers. "Historic, historic performance," Nets coach Steve Nash gushed in his postgame comments to ESPN.
Believe it or not, the Bucks were actually in control during much of the game, continuing with their momentum from the last two games and leading by as much as 17 at one point. Giannis Antetokounmpo played very well, finishing with 34 points and 12 boards. But the Nets adjusted and responded in the third quarter with a flurry of points, mostly by Durant, to mount the spectacular comeback.
Harden was also able to do his part for the Nets, with the former MVP pitching in five points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
The series heads back to Milwaukee with the Bucks’ backs against the wall
After Durant’s mind-blowing performance in Game 5, the Bucks suddenly find themselves playing to stay alive in the series. Milwaukee hasn’t lost a game to the Nets at home, whether in the regular season or in the playoffs. In fact, the Bucks haven’t lost a single playoff game against anyone at home, a trend that will have to hold if this series is to go all the way to a Game 7 decider.
The Nets will try and close out the series on the road against the Bucks on Thursday night.
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire