‘It’s on me’ – Durant accepts responsibility as Nets go 2-0 down to Celtics
The Brooklyn Nets trail the Boston Celtics 2-0 in their playoff series, but Kevin Durant is hopeful of turning things around.
Kevin Durant accepts it is down to him to step up and rescue the Brooklyn Nets’ playoff series after struggling once again as his side fell 2-0 down to the Boston Celtics.
The 12-time NBA All-Star went zero-of-10 from the field in the second half, which is the most field attempts without a make in any half during his career.
While Durant did manage to score 12 points in the second half, it was not enough as the Celtics overturned a 17-point deficit to prevail 114-107 on Wednesday.
He is now 13-for-40 from the field in the series, having also struggled in the Nets’ 115-114 loss in Game 1.
Durant: “I’ve just got to go out there and play”
“It’s on me to just finish it and figure it out,” Durant said when asked about his latest underwhelming display.
“I’m not expecting my team-mates or the defense to give me anything. I’ve just got to go out there and play.”
Despite being targeted by multiple players, Durant still led the scoring with 27 points at TD Garden as he finished 18-of-20 from the free throw line.
Rather than complain about opposition tactics, though, the 33-year-old hopes to find a solution in time for Game 3 in Brooklyn on Saturday.
“They’re playing two, three guys off me sometimes on me when I’m off the ball,” Durant said. “They’re mucking up actions when I run off stuff.
“I see [Al] Horford leaving his man to come over and hit me sometimes. Two or three guys hit me wherever I go. And that’s just the nature of the beast in the playoffs.
“I feel like I got a couple good shots there in the fourth that just didn’t go down, but I see a few of their guys around me every time I get the ball. So I got to be more patient, but also play fast sometimes, too.”
Irving: “We’re going against the No. 1 team in defense in the league”
Kyrie Irving, who added 10 points for the Nets, believes the blame should be shared on the back of successive defeats.
“We’re going against the No. 1 team in defense in the league. They’ve proven it, so it’s not going to be easy, but it can be done,” he said.
“I’ve got to get [Durant] to his spots and make the game a lot easier, and I believe I can do that with the assistance of the coaches and having a game plan to attack this defense.”