Durant admits Celtics' physicality an issue after going 0-for-10 in 2nd half

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant didn't convert a single field goal on 10 attempts in Wednesday's second half, as his team now trails 0-2 in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics.

Durant recorded 27 points in Game 2 but shot just 4-of-17 overall in the 114-107 defeat. He conceded postgame that the Celtics' physical style of defense bothered him.

"They're playing two, three guys off me sometimes on me when I'm off the ball," Durant said, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "They're mucking up actions when I run off stuff - I see (Al) Horford leaving his man to come over and hit me sometimes. Two or three guys hit me wherever I go. And that's just the nature of the beast in the playoffs.

"I feel like I got a couple good shots there in the fourth that just didn't go down, but I see a few of their guys around me every time I get the ball, and so I got to be more patient, but also play fast sometimes, too."

Before Wednesday, Durant had never gone without a single field goal in any half in the playoffs. When also factoring in the regular season, it's the first time in his career that he's failed to make a shot on nine or more attempts, courtesy of Stathead.

The trade-off for Boston is having to live with Durant at the free-throw line. The 33-year-old is a combined 22-of-25 from the charity stripe in the series, although just 13-of-41 from the field.

"We want to make him work defensively and offensively have bodies on him the whole time and try to wear him down," Celtics head coach Ime Udoka said.

Nets bench boss Steve Nash acknowledged that the Celtics' uncompromising game plan has successfully thrown Durant off.

"I think they're being physical," Nash said. "They're up and into him, grabbing him, holding him, all that stuff you come to expect. He's just been uncomfortable. It hasn't looked like he's been able to quite get his rhythm."

The series will now shift to Brooklyn for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 tips off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.