Nets 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.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with a low, electric tension that only a Philadelphia-Brooklyn matchup could generate. The hardwood beneath the sneakers seemed to vibrate as the crowd roared, the noise bouncing off the rafters in a deafening wave of blue and orange versus red and white. A player from Brooklyn drove hard into the paint, meeting a 76er defender with a collision that echoed through the stadium. It wasn't just about points; it was about territory. Every foul called felt like a judgment on their city's pride, every basket a declaration of dominance in the Northeast.

Reader's Guide

The Nets clinched a spot in the play-in tournament on April 2, 2022, and clinched a playoff spot on April 12 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.

Did You Know?

• The Nets were swept in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons; in the 2020 playoffs, they were swept by the Toronto Raptors.
• The Nets used their 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft to select Cam Thomas, and also selected Kessler Edwards (44th overall), Marcus Zegarowski (49th overall), and RaiQuan Gray (59th overall).