NBA teams
Malika Andrews, ESPN Staff Writer 3y

Brooklyn Nets' Big Three play just eighth game together in win over Chicago Bulls

NBA, Brooklyn Nets

NEW YORK -- The Nets' Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving played in just their eighth game together during Saturday's 105-91 win over the Chicago Bulls, marking their first game action together since Feb. 13 against the Golden State Warriors.

Irving led the Nets with 22 points in the victory, while Durant had 12 points and 9 rebounds and Harden scored 5 on 2-of-4 shooting.

The Nets are looking to lock up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference this weekend. They end the regular season against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

A slew of injuries have kept Durant, Harden and Irving from being on the floor together. Durant strained his hamstring in the game against Golden State and missed over a month. Then, as Durant was nearing a return in early April, Harden strained his hamstring and missed over five weeks.

Entering Saturday, some combination of the Nets' Big Three has played in 46 games for the Nets this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Just Harden and Irving have played in 19 games together. Durant and Irving have played in 17 games. Harden and Durant have played in just three games as a pair -- including Wednesday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, which was Harden's first game since April 5.

Nets coach Steve Nash said Friday that the hope is that even one more game on the court will allow his leading scorers to build a bit more chemistry heading into the postseason.

"It's been few and far between," Nash said. "I don't necessarily have any expectations other than it gives us an opportunity to jell and play together and feel what it's like to be out there again."

Nash did not commit to all three players being available for both ends of the Nets' back-to-back this weekend.

The Nets' roster has also changed since Durant, Irving and Harden last played together in February. The Nets added Blake Griffin -- who has become a key player off the bench for Brooklyn and started Saturday's game with the trio.

"I'm just happy they are on the floor," forward Jeff Green said. "We're getting to finally try to create a rhythm with all guys healthy. We'll see what happens from there. We have a long week to prepare for whomever we play. For those guys, it will be good. For us, it will be good to get a look and see where we are at when everybody is healthy."

For the Nets to secure the No. 2 seed, they would need to win both games. If they go 1-1, the Milwaukee Bucks -- who trail the Nets by one game but own the series tiebreaker -- would have to lose at least one game.

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