Hobbled Nets look to finish off Bucks in Game 7

When the Brooklyn Nets waltzed to a 39-point victory in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead, it seemed plausible to think a short Eastern Conference semifinal with the Milwaukee Bucks was unfolding.

A determined Bucks team has taken advantage of its opportunities and displayed more consistent performances to force one of sports' most thrilling treats: Game 7.

In a series where the home team is unbeaten, second-seeded Brooklyn hopes the trend continues in a winner-take-all game Saturday night.

“It's all or nothing at this point,” Nets guard Joe Harris said.

Since taking a 2-0 lead with their 125-86 victory on June 7, Brooklyn is averaging 95.5 points on 43 per cent shooting and 31.2 per cent from 3-point range. Milwaukee is averaging 101.3 points on 44 per cent shooting since Game 3.

NBA home teams own a record of 109-31 in Game 7s, although the Nets' past two Game 7s bucked that trend. They won Game 7 in the first round in 2014 at Toronto and lost Game 7 at home in 2013 to the Chicago Bulls.

Milwaukee is 2-8 in Game 7s and is seeking its first win in a playoff series' seventh game since ousting the Charlotte Hornets in the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We are built for this moment,” Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “And nobody said it's going to be easy. It might be hard, but we are capable of doing it.”

The Nets are expected to be short-handed for the seventh consecutive game. Their star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving has spent 43 seconds on the floor together in this series after playing 130 minutes together in Brooklyn's five games against the Boston Celtics in the first round.