The Brooklyn Nets secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with pizzazz on Sunday night, completing one of the most impressive plays of the team’s season during their 123-109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the final seconds of the first half, Blake Griffin intercepted Cedi Osman‘s off-kilter attempt to save the ball from bouncing out of bounds. Griffin fed the ball upcourt to Kyrie Irving with a spinning, behind-the-back, right-handed pass. Irving then hurled the ball to Mike James, who was just inside the 3-point line.
James laid the ball up off the backboard for Kevin Durant to slam it down in a Harlem Globetrotters-like finish that brought the limited-capacity crowd in Barclays Center to its feet, cleared the Nets’ bench in excitement and even earned a smile from referee Marat Kogut.
“It felt like it was laid on a platter for us,” Durant said. “It happened so fast; I don’t think we forced anything. And those are usually the best plays, when it just organically happens. I’m excited to be a part of it.”
James was relieved that Durant completed the play.
