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Will Kevin Durant & James Harden Play Tonight? Nets vs Celtics NBA Playoffs Game 2: Predictions, Injury Report & Lineups

Boston Celtics will continue their uphill battle against the mighty Brooklyn Nets in game two of their NBA playoff series. After the Nets took a 1-0 lead, courtesy of a 104-93 win at home, the Celtics will be out for redemption. Since the Nets finished second in the Eastern Conference and are facing the seventh seeds, they will be the hosts, owing to their home court advantages in this seven-game series.

Date & Time: May 25, 2021 (7:30 PM ET)

Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
Dec 25, 2020; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks the ball during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Preview | Brooklyn Nets

The Nets didn’t get off to the best of starts as they trailed their rivals 47-53 going into the half-time break in game 1. They were wasteful from the perimeter earlier on. But just as the Celtics threatened to spring a surprise, Brooklyn took charge.

The trio of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant combined for 49 of their 57 points in the second half. KD finished the match with 32 points and 12 rebounds while Irving had 29 points and 6 boards. James Harden was all over the floor as he accumulated a stat line that read 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists by the end of this showdown.

Another good news for Brooklyn Nets is that their star trio emerged out of the first game without any health issues. Hence, they have no immediate injury concerns at the moment as all three are expected to take to the court on Tuesday.

Starting 5 for Brooklyn Nets

Guard – Kyrie Irving

Guard – James Harden

Center – Blake Griffin

Forward – Joe Harris

Forward – Kevin Durant

Preview | Boston Celtics

The Celtics need to dig a little deeper even if they want to have a sniff at the Nets. Their franchise star, Jayson Tatum, shot just 6 of 20 from the floor.

Read More: Two Bold Predictions For The Brooklyn Nets Vs Boston Celtics Playoff Series

Without the presence of his complimentary scorer, Jaylen Brown, he needs to double the effort and bring out his complete offensive artillery against the Nets in Game 2. For the Celtics, only Brown is ruled out after undergoing surgery on his wrist.

Starting 5 for Boston Celtics

Guard – Kemba Walker

Guard – Marcus Smart

Center – Tristan Thompson

Forward – Evan Fournier

Forward – Jayson Tatum

Predictions | Nets vs Celtics

Truth be told, we can only see one team winning this playoff series. But we are not discounting the Celtics from taking away a game or two. So, maybe they can spring a surprise here and win this game.

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