Los Angeles (AFP)

Kevin Durant's 49 points helped the Brooklyn Nets win 114-108 over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and regain the 3-2 lead in the semifinals of the NBA Eastern Conference.

Durant, who played the entire fifth game of the series on the best of seven games, also rebounded 17 and delivered 10 assists in a masterful performance.

The 32-year-old became the first in playoff history to score at least 45 points while taking at least 15 rebounds and delivering 10 assists.

The winger's awakening was essential in the second part of the game, when the Nets were still behind by 17 points in the middle of the third quarter.

The New York players handed Milwaukee a 17-5, before Durant sealed the game with a three-point basket and four free throws in the final two minutes.

"I didn't have to play every minute but I told my coach I was feeling good and he let me play," said Durant, who nearly equaled his points record for a play-off game. (50 in 2019 with Golden State), but beat that of his franchise (43 points from Vince Carter 15 years ago).

"He played the whole game and missed almost nothing. It's crazy what he is capable of achieving. To do it in a night like this, despite the absences and the injuries," praised his coach Steve Nash, while Brooklyn was notably deprived of another of its stars, Kyrie Irving, hit in an ankle and uncertain for the rest of the series.

"It's the kind of performance that makes him one of the very best of all time," Nash praised.

- Harden, shy return -

Even Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 34 points and 12 rebounds in Game 5, said Durant "is the best player in the world right now."

"We have to beat him playing as a team. We have to keep working and hope that he ends up missing out," he conceded helplessly.

The Nets now have two chances to win the series, the first on Thursday at the Milwaukee field, where they have lost both matches in the series played so far.

Game 7, if necessary, will take place in New York on Saturday.

In addition to Durant, the Nets have been able to count on the return of another of their superstars, James Harden, absent since the first game of this conference semi-final.

# photo1

But the rear failed to regain precision, and only scored five points in ten attempts.

The Nets were however able to count on Jeff Green, 27 points, as well as on Blake Griffin, 17 points.

© 2021 AFP