The Brooklyn Nets exploded for 130 points in their Game 2 win over the Boston Celtics, with the catalyst not named Kevin Durant, James Harden, or Kyrie Irving.
Sharpshooter Joe Harris exploded for 25 points, with 22 of those coming in the first half on a franchise-record six triples.
Harris, one of the best shooters in the NBA made the Celtics pay on repeat for leaving him open, with the gravity of the triple superstar threat proving too much for the Boston defence to handle.
"We have three of the best offensive players that have really ever played," said Harris postgame. "That's a shooter's dream right there."
Game 2 was effectively over at the half, with Brooklyn running up a 24-point lead. The margin was the franchise's second largest in history, only trailing Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls way back in 2013.
Joey
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 26, 2021
Got
Buckets
📼 Highlights from Joe's 25-point, 7-three night 📼 pic.twitter.com/GTKfTwFvtG
Harris finished the night 9-for-14 from the field and 7-for-10 from beyond the arc - tying the franchise postseason record for made triples.
"I feel like Joe always has it going no matter how many makes or misses he has," Durant said. “When Joe gets going like that, that unlocks our whole team.”
For the second consecutive game, it felt like the Nets' offence was in cruise control, with Durant's 26 points leading the team, while Harden added 20 points and seven assists.
"It's not about scoring for me, it's about doing everything else," former MVP Harden said. "Ultimately we got the win."
26 points from No. 7
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 26, 2021
📼 @KDTrey5 📼 pic.twitter.com/8w7ZwP4vbH
One of the most high volume scorers in the league, Harden has now made four appearances since returning from a hamstring injury. In those four games he has averaged 16 points, with his ability to facilitate and bring his teammates into the game shining through.
All this is to say that the Nets have significant firepower when necessary, it just appears it might not be required in the first-round series against the Celtics.
The Big 3 combined for 61 of the Nets 130 on the night, in a sharp reminder of not only their depth, but the unselfishness of their biggest names.
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