Brooklyn Nets were powered by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a 115-107 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals in the NBA playoffs. Durant scored 29 points and Irving scored 25 points after they were struck with a James Harden injury.

Apart from Durant and Irving, Joe Harris (19 points) and Blake Griffin (18 points and 14 rebounds) were the other superstars who starred for Nets.

Harden left the court with a right hamstring injury and did not return to the court. He was taken to a medical facility for an MRI scan to ascertain the magnanimity of his injury.

Nets had a solid defence as they limited the Bucks to 13 points below their NBA-leading average.

Durant registered 10 rebounds and Irving had eight assists, as he threw some important passes, helping the Nets move the ball around quickly.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and 11 rebounds, but the Bucks were just 6 for 30 from 3-point range. This was also the first time they lost in the playoffs after they defeated Miami in a first-round sweep.

For the Bucks, Brook Lopez scored 19 points and Jrue Holiday scored 17 points, coupled with nine rebounds. Khris Middleton scored 13 points and 13 rebounds but was 6 for 23, missing all five 3-pointers.

The NBA’s two highest-scoring teams played at a fast pace, looking to score, all in the blink of an eye.

The 31-year-old Harden has had hamstring problems before, missing 21 games in April and May.

He averaged 24.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 10.8 assists this season, which saw him move from the Houston Rockets to the Nets in a blockbuster trade in January.

A nine-time all-star, Harden is trying to win his first NBA championship and he is seeking to do it alongside fellow stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.