Key Game 7 questions: Do Nets have enough left in the tank? Can Bucks win on the road?
![Portrait of Jeff Zillgitt](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/82e68f6ecf573c69b697e2a43336520c4240d68d/c=23-0-569-546/local/-/media/2019/03/20/USATODAY/USATODAY/636886941037949052-Jeff-Zillgitt-.jpg?width=48&height=48&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Brooklynās James Harden came away with a steal and didnāt have a Milwaukee defender between him and the basket. In normal times, Harden wouldāve darted to the rim for a layup while trying to draw a foul.
But Harden pulled up, knowing his bad hamstring didnāt have enough power to get him to the rim before a Bucks defender caught up with him.
āJames was better tonight as far as what he was able to do, but itās tough,ā Nets coach Steve Nash said. āHeās really limited. He canāt do a lot of things heās accustomed to doing. ā¦ Tough, tough position for James to be out there trying his best, trying to help this team and not being able to move the way he normally would.ā
Harden isnāt 100%, Kyrie Irving missed his second consecutive game with a sprained ankle, every Nets starter played at least 30 minutes in Game 6 and now the Nets head back home for Game 7 with an exhausted, short-handed group.
Milwaukee defeated Brooklyn 104-89 in Game 6 on Thursday, tying the Eastern Conference semifinals series at 3-3.
Game 7 is Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT), and two major questions loom:
Do the Nets have enough left to get one more victory?
Can the Bucks become the first team to get a road win this series?
Harden said he felt a little better, and the expectation is that he is a little healthier by the start of Saturdayās game. But he wonāt be 100% as he plays through the injury. After missing basically four games, Harden logged nearly 46 minutes in Game 5, and Durant played all 48 minutes. The minutes are piling up.
āWe didnāt look like we had a ton of energy all night. I think we wanted it. We just couldnāt find it,ā Nash said following Game 6. āOverall, I didnāt like the way we played offensively. We just looked a little slow, a little stagnant and got away from what we do best. But thatās sometimes how it rolls in the playoffs.ā
The Bucks also outscored the Nets 26-4 in fast-break points.
āWe had some problems getting back in transition,ā Nash said.
The Nets looked a step slow, and maybe thatās just playing on the road against a desperate team that needed a win to continue its season.
Or it could be deeper than that. The Nets might be drained physically and mentally, trying to overcome injuries all season long.
The Nets needed a big comeback and a historic game from Durant to win Game 5 at home. Durantās fantastic, but you canāt count on him going for 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists again. Jeff Green had 27 points in Game 5, and while heās capable of that, itās not realistic to think he will do it again.
It will require a much more all-around team effort for the Nets to advance to the conference finals.
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Milwaukee didnāt have a great offensive game as a team in Game 6. But it found some things that worked, freeing up Khris Middleton for some open shots and getting Giannis Antetokounmpo to focus on what he does best ā attacking the rim.
Antetokounmpo made 11 of his 12 shots in the paint, and he didnāt take one 3-point shot ā the first time this series he didnāt attempt one from behind the line. Thatās a great sign for Milwaukee.
But the Bucks also have to win on the road. They wilted in the second half of Game 1, were blown out in Game 2 and had no answer for Durant and sputtered down the stretch of Game 5 after building a 16-point lead in the third quarter.
So, itās down to Game 7.
One team is spent.
The other hasnāt won on the road in the series.
Who finds a way?