Nets secure No. 7 spot in East with win over Clippers

The Nets have cemented their spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They will play the No. 2 team in the East to start the playoffs.

The Brooklyn Nets have earned themselves a bit of a break before the 2020 NBA Playoffs get rolling.

With their win on Friday over the Sacramento Kings, the Nets secured a playoff berth. Then after the Orlando Magic lost to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday and did so again to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Nets had to win one more game to secure the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Brooklyn’s first chance to secure a matchup with the No. 2 team in the East to open the 2020 NBA Playoffs came against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The Nets did not disappoint, knocking off Kawhi Leonard and company 129-120.

Joe Harris was the big story in the first half, scoring 23 points on 9-for-11 shooting (5-for-7 from deep). However, Brooklyn’s sharpshooter was stifled in the first half. He finished with 25 points 10 of 16 shooting (5-for-8 from long-range).

But Caris LeVert remained steady throughout the contest. In addition to setting a career-high in assists (13), LeVert scored 27 points, grabbed four boards and had a steal.

Tyler Johnson provided a huge boost off the bench, finishing with 21 points.

Garrett Temple (19 points) and Jarrett Allen (16) each finished in double-figures, as well. Allen also grabbed 16 boards, securing his 29th double-double of 2019-20,  and blocked two shots.

Brooklyn faces the Orlando Magic next on Tuesday at 1 p.m.