2020–21 Brooklyn Nets season

The 2020–21 Brooklyn Nets season was the 45th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 54th season overall, and its ninth season playing in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. On September 3, 2020, the Nets hired Steve Nash as their new head coach.

In the beginning of the 2020–21 season, the Nets acquired James Harden in a four-team trade on January 14, 2021. The trade reunited him with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant, and along with Kyrie Irving, the Nets created a superteam.

The Nets set a franchise record for three-point field goals during the game versus the Sacramento Kings on February 15, 2021, with 27 three-point field goals, and narrowly missed the NBA record (29), which was set by the Milwaukee Bucks on December 29, 2020.

Fan attendance in home games was prohibited until February 23, 2021, per an executive order from Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo. The Nets reopened the Barclays Center to spectators on February 23.

The Nets clinched a playoff berth for the third straight year, following their victory over the Toronto Raptors on April 27, becoming the first Eastern Conference team, and second overall to do so.

The Nets faced the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, defeating them in five games. The Nets then faced the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the conference semifinals and lost the series in seven games despite taking a 2–0 and later a 3–2 lead.

Draft
The Nets entered the draft holding one first round pick and one second round pick. The first round pick was acquired on June 20, 2019, in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The second round pick was acquired on July 13, 2018, in a trade with the Denver Nuggets. The Nets used their 19th overall pick to select Saddiq Bey, and then selected Jay Scrubb with the 55th overall pick.

Preseason
The preseason schedule was announced on November 27, 2020.


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 1
 * December 13
 * Washington
 * Irving (18)
 * Jordan, Perry (7)
 * Dinwiddie (7)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * December 18
 * @ Boston
 * Durant (25)
 * Allen (11)
 * Irving, Jordan (5)
 * TD Garden No in-person attendance
 * 2–0
 * TD Garden No in-person attendance
 * 2–0

Regular season
The regular season schedule for the first two games of the season was released on December 2, 2020, while the schedule for the first half of the season was released on December 4. The schedule for the second half of the season was released on February 24, 2021.


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 1
 * December 22
 * Golden State
 * Irving (26)
 * Jordan (11)
 * LeVert (5)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * December 25
 * @ Boston
 * Irving (37)
 * Allen (11)
 * Irving (8)
 * TD Garden No in-person attendance
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 3
 * December 27
 * @ Charlotte
 * Durant (29)
 * Allen (14)
 * Irving (6)
 * Spectrum Center No in-person attendance
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 4
 * December 28
 * Memphis
 * LeVert (28)
 * Allen (15)
 * LeVert (11)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 2–2
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 5
 * December 30
 * Atlanta
 * Durant (33)
 * Allen (13)
 * Durant, LeVert (8)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 3–2
 * Durant (33)
 * Allen (13)
 * Durant, LeVert (8)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 3–2


 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 6
 * January 1
 * Atlanta
 * Durant (28)
 * Irving (11)
 * Durant, Irving (4)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 3–3
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 7
 * January 3
 * Washington
 * Irving (30)
 * Allen, Durant (11)
 * Irving (10)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 3–4
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 8
 * January 5
 * Utah
 * Irving (29)
 * Allen (18)
 * T. Johnson (7)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 4–4
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 9
 * January 7
 * Philadelphia
 * Harris (28)
 * Allen, Jordan (11)
 * LeVert (10)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 5–4
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 10
 * January 8
 * @ Memphis
 * LeVert (43)
 * Green (9)
 * Allen, LeVert (6)
 * FedExForum No in-person attendance
 * 5–5
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 11
 * January 10
 * Oklahoma City
 * Durant (36)
 * Durant (11)
 * LeVert (6)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 5–6
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 12
 * January 12
 * Denver
 * Durant (34)
 * Durant (9)
 * Durant (13)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 6–6
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 13
 * January 13
 * @ New York
 * Durant (26)
 * Brown (14)
 * Chiozza (7)
 * Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
 * 7–6
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 14
 * January 16
 * Orlando
 * Durant (42)
 * Harden (12)
 * Harden (14)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 8–6
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 15
 * January 18
 * Milwaukee
 * Harden (34)
 * Jordan (12)
 * Harden (12)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 9–6
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 16
 * January 20
 * @ Cleveland
 * Durant (38)
 * Durant (12)
 * Harden (12)
 * Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 1,944
 * 9–7
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 17
 * January 22
 * @ Cleveland
 * Irving (38)
 * Harris (7)
 * Harden (11)
 * Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 1,944
 * 9–8
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 18
 * January 23
 * Miami
 * Durant (31)
 * Jordan, Brown (8)
 * Harden (11)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 10–8
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 19
 * January 25
 * Miami
 * Durant, Harden (20)
 * Durant (13)
 * Harden (8)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 11–8
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 20
 * January 27
 * @ Atlanta
 * Durant (32)
 * Harden (8)
 * Harden (15)
 * State Farm Arena 1,008
 * 12–8
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 21
 * January 29
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Harden, Irving (25)
 * Perry (11)
 * Harden (11)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena No in-person attendance
 * 13–8
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 22
 * January 31
 * @ Washington
 * Durant (37)
 * Brown (9)
 * Irving (8)
 * Capital One Arena No in-person attendance
 * 13–9
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Harden, Irving (25)
 * Perry (11)
 * Harden (11)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena No in-person attendance
 * 13–8
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 22
 * January 31
 * @ Washington
 * Durant (37)
 * Brown (9)
 * Irving (8)
 * Capital One Arena No in-person attendance
 * 13–9
 * Capital One Arena No in-person attendance
 * 13–9


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 23
 * February 2
 * L.A. Clippers
 * Irving (39)
 * Harden (11)
 * Harden (14)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 14–9
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 24
 * February 5
 * Toronto
 * Harris (19)
 * Harden (7)
 * Harden (12)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 14–10
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 25
 * February 6
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Harden (26)
 * Harden (8)
 * Harden (10)
 * Wells Fargo Center No in-person attendance
 * 14–11
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 26
 * February 9
 * @ Detroit
 * Irving (27)
 * Brown (9)
 * Harden (12)
 * Little Caesars Arena No in-person attendance
 * 14–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 27
 * February 10
 * Indiana
 * Irving (35)
 * Jordan (13)
 * Irving (8)
 * Barclays Center No in-person attendance
 * 15–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 28
 * February 13
 * @ Golden State
 * Irving (23)
 * Harden (8)
 * Harden (16)
 * Chase Center No in-person attendance
 * 16–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 29
 * February 15
 * @ Sacramento
 * Irving (40)
 * Harden (13)
 * Harden (14)
 * Golden 1 Center No in-person attendance
 * 17–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 30
 * February 16
 * @ Phoenix
 * Harden (38)
 * Green (8)
 * Harden (11)
 * Phoenix Suns Arena 3,181
 * 18–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 31
 * February 18
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * Harden (23)
 * Jordan (8)
 * Harden (11)
 * Staples Center No in-person attendance
 * 19–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 32
 * February 21
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * Harden (37)
 * Harden, Jordan (11)
 * Irving (8)
 * Staples Center No in-person attendance
 * 20–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 33
 * February 23
 * Sacramento
 * Brown, Harden (29)
 * Harden (11)
 * Harden (14)
 * Barclays Center 324
 * 21–12
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 34
 * February 25
 * Orlando
 * Irving (27)
 * Jordan (11)
 * Irving (9)
 * Barclays Center 327
 * 22–12
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 35
 * February 27
 * Dallas
 * Harden (29)
 * Brown (9)
 * Harden (6)
 * Barclays Center 684
 * 22–13
 * Irving (9)
 * Barclays Center 327
 * 22–12
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 35
 * February 27
 * Dallas
 * Harden (29)
 * Brown (9)
 * Harden (6)
 * Barclays Center 684
 * 22–13
 * 22–13


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 36
 * March 1
 * @ San Antonio
 * Harden (30)
 * Harden (14)
 * Harden (15)
 * AT&T Center No in-person attendance
 * 23–13
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 37
 * March 3
 * @ Houston
 * Harden (29)
 * Harden, Jordan (10)
 * Harden (14)
 * Toyota Center 3,615
 * 24–13
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 38
 * March 11
 * Boston
 * Irving (40)
 * Harden (10)
 * Harden (8)
 * Barclays Center 1,374
 * 25–13
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 39
 * March 13
 * Detroit
 * Harden (24)
 * Harden (10)
 * Harden (10)
 * Barclays Center 1,364
 * 26–13
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 40
 * March 15
 * New York
 * Irving (34)
 * Harden (15)
 * Harden (15)
 * Barclays Center 1,637
 * 27–13
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 41
 * March 17
 * @ Indiana
 * Harden (40)
 * Harden (10)
 * Harden (15)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse No in-person attendance
 * 28–13
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 42
 * March 19
 * @ Orlando
 * Irving (43)
 * Brown (7)
 * Harden (9)
 * Amway Center 3,665
 * 28–14
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 43
 * March 21
 * Washington
 * Irving (28)
 * Irving (7)
 * Harden (8)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 29–14
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 44
 * March 23
 * @ Portland
 * Harden (25)
 * Jordan (10)
 * Harden (17)
 * Moda Center No in-person attendance
 * 30–14
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 45
 * March 24
 * @ Utah
 * A. Johnson (23)
 * A. Johnson (15)
 * Chiozza (11)
 * Vivint Arena 5,546
 * 30–15
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 46
 * March 26
 * @ Detroit
 * Harden (44)
 * Harden (14)
 * Harden (8)
 * Little Caesars Arena 750
 * 31–15
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 47
 * March 29
 * Minnesota
 * Harden (38)
 * Harden (11)
 * Harden (13)
 * Barclays Center 1,732
 * 32–15
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 48
 * March 31
 * Houston
 * Irving (31)
 * Claxton, Harden (8)
 * Irving (12)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 33–15
 * Harden (13)
 * Barclays Center 1,732
 * 32–15
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 48
 * March 31
 * Houston
 * Irving (31)
 * Claxton, Harden (8)
 * Irving (12)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 33–15
 * 33–15


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 49
 * April 1
 * Charlotte
 * Green (21)
 * Irving (11)
 * Irving (8)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 34–15
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 50
 * April 4
 * @ Chicago
 * Irving (24)
 * Griffin (8)
 * Irving (15)
 * United Center No in-person attendance
 * 34–16
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 51
 * April 5
 * New York
 * Irving (40)
 * Harris (8)
 * Irving (7)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 35–16
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 52
 * April 7
 * New Orleans
 * Irving (24)
 * Brown (8)
 * Chiozza (8)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 36–16
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 53
 * April 10
 * L.A. Lakers
 * Durant (22)
 * Brown, Durant (7)
 * Durant (5)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 36–17
 * - style="background:#bbb;"
 * April 12
 * @ Minnesota
 * colspan="3"|Postponed for security reasons due to Daunte Wright protests; moved to April 13
 * Target Center
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 54
 * April 13
 * @ Minnesota
 * Durant (31)
 * Brown (12)
 * Chiozza, Shamet (5)
 * Target Center No in-person attendance
 * 37–17
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 55
 * April 14
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Irving (37)
 * Jordan (14)
 * Irving (9)
 * Wells Fargo Center 4,094
 * 37–18
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 56
 * April 16
 * Charlotte
 * Harris (26)
 * Claxton (9)
 * Durant (11)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 38–18
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 57
 * April 18
 * @ Miami
 * Shamet (30)
 * Brown (11)
 * Irving (9)
 * American Airlines Arena No in-person attendance
 * 38–19
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 58
 * April 20
 * @ New Orleans
 * Irving (32)
 * Brown (11)
 * Irving, Shamet (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 39–19
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 59
 * April 21
 * @ Toronto
 * Irving (28)
 * Brown (14)
 * Irving (8)
 * Amalie Arena No in-person attendance
 * 39–20
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 60
 * April 23
 * Boston
 * Harris (20)
 * Jordan (11)
 * Irving (11)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 40–20
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 61
 * April 25
 * Phoenix
 * Irving (34)
 * Jordan (12)
 * Irving (12)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 41–20
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 62
 * April 27
 * @ Toronto
 * Green (22)
 * Durant (10)
 * James (8)
 * Amalie Arena No in-person attendance
 * 42–20
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 63
 * April 29
 * @ Indiana
 * Durant (42)
 * A. Johnson (21)
 * Durant (10)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse No in-person attendance
 * 43–20
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 64
 * April 30
 * Portland
 * Irving (28)
 * A. Johnson (12)
 * Griffin (4)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 43–21
 * 63
 * April 29
 * @ Indiana
 * Durant (42)
 * A. Johnson (21)
 * Durant (10)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse No in-person attendance
 * 43–20
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 64
 * April 30
 * Portland
 * Irving (28)
 * A. Johnson (12)
 * Griffin (4)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 43–21
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 43–21


 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 65
 * May 2
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Durant (42)
 * Jordan (11)
 * Irving (6)
 * Fiserv Forum 3,280
 * 43–22
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 66
 * May 4
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Irving (38)
 * Durant, Jordan (9)
 * Durant (6)
 * Fiserv Forum 3,280
 * 43–23
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 67
 * May 6
 * @ Dallas
 * Irving (45)
 * Griffin (10)
 * Irving, James (4)
 * American Airlines Center 4,602
 * 43–24
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 68
 * May 8
 * @ Denver
 * Durant (33)
 * Durant (11)
 * Durant (7)
 * Ball Arena 4,044
 * 44–24
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 69
 * May 11
 * @ Chicago
 * Durant (21)
 * Brown, Claxton (10)
 * Durant (8)
 * United Center 3,434
 * 45–24
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 70
 * May 12
 * San Antonio
 * Shamet (21)
 * Brown (11)
 * Harden (11)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 46–24
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 71
 * May 15
 * Chicago
 * Irving (22)
 * Brown (12)
 * Harden (7)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 47–24
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 72
 * May 16
 * Cleveland
 * Durant (23)
 * Durant (8)
 * Durant (13)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 48–24
 * May 16
 * Cleveland
 * Durant (23)
 * Durant (8)
 * Durant (13)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 48–24
 * 48–24

Playoffs

 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 1
 * May 22
 * Boston
 * Durant (32)
 * Durant (12)
 * Harden (8)
 * Barclays Center 14,391
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * May 25
 * Boston
 * Durant (26)
 * Brown, Durant (8)
 * Harden (7)
 * Barclays Center 14,774
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 3
 * May 28
 * @ Boston
 * Harden (41)
 * Durant (9)
 * Harden (10)
 * TD Garden 4,789
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 4
 * May 30
 * @ Boston
 * Durant (42)
 * Irving (11)
 * Harden (18)
 * TD Garden 17,226
 * 3–1
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 5
 * June 1
 * Boston
 * Harden (34)
 * Harden (10)
 * Harden (10)
 * Barclays Center 14,993
 * 4–1
 * Harden (34)
 * Harden (10)
 * Harden (10)
 * Barclays Center 14,993
 * 4–1


 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 1
 * June 5
 * Milwaukee
 * Durant (29)
 * Griffin (14)
 * Irving (8)
 * Barclays Center 15,750
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 2
 * June 7
 * Milwaukee
 * Durant (32)
 * Griffin (8)
 * Durant, Irving (6)
 * Barclays Center 15,776
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 3
 * June 10
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Durant (30)
 * Brown, Durant (11)
 * Durant (5)
 * Fiserv Forum 16,310
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 4
 * June 13
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Durant (28)
 * Durant (13)
 * Durant (5)
 * Fiserv Forum 16,310
 * 2–2
 * - style="background:#bfb;"
 * 5
 * June 15
 * Milwaukee
 * Durant (49)
 * Durant (17)
 * Durant (10)
 * Barclays Center 16,067
 * 3–2
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 6
 * June 17
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Durant (32)
 * Durant (11)
 * Harden (7)
 * Fiserv Forum 16,310
 * 3–3
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 7
 * June 19
 * Milwaukee
 * Durant (48)
 * Griffin (11)
 * Harden (9)
 * Barclays Center 16,287
 * 3–4
 * Milwaukee
 * Durant (48)
 * Griffin (11)
 * Harden (9)
 * Barclays Center 16,287
 * 3–4
 * 3–4

Regular season statistics
As of May 16, 2021

Playoff statistics
As of June 19, 2021