The Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the first two teams to secure their spot in the 2022 NBA Playoffs through the Play-In tournament. The Nets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-115 to take the No. 7 seed in Eastern Conference, while Timberwolves got a 104-109 win over the LA Clippers to grab the seventh seed in Western Conference.
The Nets will now take on the Boston Celtics in the First round of playoffs while the Timberwolves face the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brooklyn’s win over the Cavs was highlighted by the performance of their All-Star duo, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Irving stole the show with 34 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds, while Durant added 25 points, 11 assists, and five boards.
Cleveland’s best player on the night was guard Darius Garland, who matched Irving’s 34, while rookie Evan Mobley contributed with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Second-year player Anthony Edwards will take the most credit for Minnesota’s win with 30 points and five rebounds. Veteran guard D’Angelo Russell had 29 points, while the team’s biggest star Karl-Anthony Towns scored 11 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Paul George had to do it all for the Clippers, scoring 34 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing five assists.
The Cavs and the Clippers’ playoffs’ hopes are still alive despite the losses. The Cavaliers will play the winner of the Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks matchup for the eighth seed, while the LA team will face either San Antonio Spurs or New Orleans Pelicans to get the No. 8 in the West.
