Nets’ win moves magic # to 1 as Brooklyn looks to clinch playoff berth
By John Canady
The Brooklyn Nets missed their chance to clinch the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night following their loss to the Timberwolves. However, following tonight’s 123-108 win over the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn is one step closer to clinching a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season.
In the win for the Nets, the newfound successful duo of Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie led the way. Bridges finished his night with 26 points, six assists, and three rebounds while shooting an inefficient 10/26 from the field and 2/11 from 3-point range. Dinwiddie, on the other hand, showed off his playmaking to end the night with a game-high 16 assists to go with six points and three rebounds on 1/10 shooting from the floor.
Despite the poor shooting night from the duo, Brooklyn still managed to handle Dwayne Casey’s young squad as the team looks ahead to punching its postseason ticket.
Nets’ magic # down to 1
The Nets’ win on Wednesday night now brings the team’s magic number down to one to clinch the No. 6 seed. But what does this mean?
Before their victory over the Pistons, Brooklyn needed to finish the season 2-1 in their final three games to clinch the sixth seed. The Nets could also clinch the No. 6 seed if the Miami Heat managed to lose at least one game out of the final three remaining. However, with the Heat on an off night and a win from Brooklyn, the Nets increased the gap between them and Miami to 1.5 games.
With two games to go, the Nets have to win just one more game to clinch the sixth seed and make the franchise’s 24thplayoff appearance.
Brooklyn’s next matchup comes on Friday night versus the Orlando Magic, with a chance to clinch a playoff berth in front of their home crowd. The final game of the season will be a tough battle against the 76ers, considering if Doc Rivers doesn’t elect to rest his starters in the final regular-season game. Nonetheless, with two games to go, Brooklyn’s chances of making the playoffs continue to grow.