Some old friends might be able to do the Nets a solid. Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert could be the key to Kyrie Irving appearing in a play-in game.
All the Cavaliers need to do to gift-wrap an April present to the Nets? Lose more games than the Raptors the rest of the way.
With 12 games remaining in the Nets’ season, the play-in appears inevitable. They will enter their home game against the Trail Blazers on Friday 3 ¹/₂ games behind Cleveland and Toronto, which are tied for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
If the Nets (36-34) hold off the Hornets (a game back) and Hawks (1 ¹/₂ games back), they would visit the No. 7 seed in the first play-in game. The winner would advance to the first round of the playoffs against the No. 2 seed; the loser would host the winner of the Nos. 9-10 game.
The danger that has come into focus throughout the second half of the regular season entails Irving possibly missing both games, as the…