KD cautions Brown after Celtics diss: 'That's caffeine pride talking'

With the Brooklyn Nets defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first of the Eastern Conference's play-in games on Tuesday, Steve Nash's squad has shifted its focus to Boston, where a first-round series against the Celtics awaits.

Fourth-year swingman Bruce Brown isn't sweating after his Nets secured a first-round matchup against the second-seeded Celtics - especially not with the backline anchor of their Atlantic Division rival's defense still reportedly still weeks away from returning to the lineup.

"Them not having Robert Williams is huge," Brown said of the Celtics postgame, according to the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn. "We can attack (Daniel) Theis and (Al) Horford in the paint."

Boston allowed 42.1 points in the paint per game - the second-fewest in the league - up until Williams suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee on March 27. That number jumped to 46.9 points over the final seven regular-season contests, with Williams sidelined and Horford and Theis playing a larger role at center.

Arriving for his postgame media availability after Brown, Kevin Durant appeared visibly annoyed by the prospect of providing Boston with any additional bulletin board material. The two-time Finals MVP quickly dismissed his younger teammate's bold boast as the result of "caffeine pride."

"We don't need to say shit like that," Durant added. "Let's just go out there and hoop."

Game 1 in Boston tips off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.