NBA Play-in tournament: Brooklyn Nets, Timberwolves secure seventh seed
The 2021-22 NBA Play-in tournament officially kicked off the post-season for the teams, with the final two places in the playoffs for each conference up for grabs.
The NBA Play-in tournament was created two years ago to increase the number of teams in the playoff picture.
The Brooklyn Nets seem to have put their regular season struggles behind them as they booked their place in the playoffs with a 115-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game of the NBA Play-in tournament. Since trading James Harden and reinstating Kyrie Irving, the side has looked much stronger.
Irving led the scoring for his team with 34 points and 12 assists, with Kevin Durant contributing 25 points and 11 rebounds. The Nets have now booked a playoff date with the second seed from the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, will get a second chance when they face the loser of the match between the 9th and 10th seeds.
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off an impressive comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers in their NBA Play-in tournament opener. The Timberwolves won the game 109-104.
Despite All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns having a bad game, the Timberwolves were able to rely on Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell to lead them to victory. Edwards led the scoring for his side with 30 points and Russell scored 29 points. The Timberwolves have now secured the West’s seventh seed and will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
