After a month of claiming they’re not scoreboard-watching or worrying about standings, the Nets are finally in control of their own destiny.
The Nets can clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a win in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the visiting Cavaliers — or with a Bucks loss at Chicago.
The third-seeded Bucks kept the pressure on the Nets by beating the Heat on Saturday night. But though the Nets lost the season tiebreaker to Milwaukee, they still lead the Bucks by a game and can earn the No. 2 seed — something they finally admit is a major goal.
“Yeah, I think so. We just have one game to win, and we control our own destiny as far as the seedings go. We think that’s positive,” coach Steve Nash said before the Nets’ 105-91 win over the Bulls. “If we can win that game, it’s much better being the second seed. “It’s a little advantage we can create, and it just comes down to concentration and trying to close this deal [Sunday]. Yeah, we definitely want it.”
They apparently may want it enough to be willing to play all of their Big 3 on Sunday.
“Yeah, we’ll consider it. It’s just a matter of how they come through, how they feel in the morning and are they available,” Nash said. “But if we need that win [Sunday], we’re not averse to those guys playing.”
The Nets have been loath to play Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin on back-to-backs, but did so on Tuesday and Wednesday. And James Harden is only two games into his comeback from a five-week long absence.
But Durant said he has every intention of suiting up for the regular-season finale.
“I expect to play. We want to finish the season off, so I’m sure we’re all looking at that game and seeing what happens. Just for rhythm and just to get back on the court again I want to play,” Durant said. “But we’ll see what happens [Saturday night]. I trust the coaches and training staff to make the right decision. But as a basketball player I definitely want to be out there regardless.”
Joe Harris sat out a second straight game with a left gluteal strain, and he has been ruled out for Sunday. He hadn’t missed a game all season, and this marks the first time he has missed three straight since 2018.
“Yeah, he had imaging and a slight strain, so he’s gonna be out this weekend,” Nash said. “But we expect he’ll make a full recovery for the playoffs.”
Bruce Brown (16 points, 12 rebounds) had his sixth double-double of the season — and career-high third in a row — after having just four in his first two seasons combined.
Playing together for only the eighth time — and first since Feb. 13 — the Big 3 of Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving, were a minus-5 in 26 minutes together. But they got outscored 12-0 in the first two-plus minutes before settling down.
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