Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers

Lore & Background

On February 10, 2022, the Nets sent superstar James Harden and Paul Millsap to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster deal, in return for Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, Ben Simmons, and two first-round picks. This trade ended the superteam era of the Nets. On April 2, 2022, the Nets clinched a spot in the play-in tournament. On April 12, the Nets clinched a playoff spot after winning the play-in game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, they faced the Boston Celtics, losing the series 4–0. It was the second time in three seasons that the Nets were swept in the first round of the playoffs; in the 2020 playoffs, they were swept by the Toronto Raptors.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed with a different energy that night; it was not the Garden or the Barclays Center, but a distant court where two giants clashed. Fans wore red and white or cream and blue, chanting for teams that had never shared a jersey with the Nets' tri-colors. It was a battle of eras, a reminder that while the Brooklyn Nets carved their own path through history, the NBA was vast enough to hold other legendary feuds.

Reader's Guide

The Nets entered the draft holding one first-round pick and three second-round picks. The 44th overall pick was acquired on July 7, 2016, in a trade with the Indiana Pacers. The 49th overall pick was acquired on July 6, 2019, in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. The 59th overall pick was acquired on July 20, 2018, in a trade with the Phoenix Suns. The Nets used their 27th overall pick to select Cam Thomas, and then selected Kessler Edwards (44th overall pick), Marcus Zegarowski (49th overall pick) and RaiQuan Gray (59th overall pick).

Did You Know?

• The Nets were swept in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
• The trade sending James Harden to the 76ers ended the superteam era of the Nets.
• The Nets clinched a playoff spot on April 12, 2022, after winning the play-in game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.