Momentum’s a funny thing, isn’t it?
Two games into their Eastern Conference semifinals series, the Brooklyn Nets were up 2-0 and weren’t even in their final form. Despite missing James Harden, the Nets had steamrolled the Milwaukee Bucks twice, and looked like the NBA’s presumptive champion.
Two and a half games later, they were well into a downward spiral, down 16 at the half despite the return of Harden and on the verge of a 3-2 series deficit.
And now, thanks to Kevin Durant's best game since tearing his Achilles in the 2019 playoffs, they're one game away from their first Eastern Conference finals since 2003.