Prior to the start of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets, forwards Paul Pierce and LeBron James shared a look and a laugh.

Brooklyn Nets v Miami Heat Game - Semi Finals Game 1

James later told reporters that he told Paul, “it’s only right” that the two familiar foes would once again meet on the path to the playoffs. This season’s postseason marks the seventh consecutive playoff appearance for the Truth and the ninth in-a-row for James. Of those appearances, the two have now crossed playoff paths five times.

“Paul is almost like a family member at this point,” James said after Game 1. “

[The playoffs are] like a family reunion and he’s that cousin you only see at the family reunion. I’ve had nine straight postseasons and I’ve seen Paul in five of them. First it was me changing the uniform and now it’s him changing the uniform and we still see each other. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it, he’s one of the best guys I know to compete against and it’s great to see him again.”

The competition was fierce in the early stages of Tuesday night’s Game 1, and the two rivals were right at the forefront, tying for a game-high six first-quarter points. But despite the Nets managing to keep the game close deep into the third quarter, the well-rested Heat pullled away late to top Brooklyn 107-86 in Miami.

Heading into Game 1, much attention was paid to the fact that the Nets had swept the defending champions in the regular season. Each of those games was tightly contested, with Brooklyn winning the four games by a combined 12 points. It seemed destined that each game of the series would be an instant classic.

Brooklyn Nets v Miami Heat - Game One

Paul admitted before the game to having a healthy dislike for James and the Heat through his years in Boston and four playoff battles, but he noted that there was no personal animosity between the two.

“When you’re in it for the same prize and only one of you can get it, there’s going to be a dislike there,” he said. “It’s nothing that’s carried off the court. I think the dislike between LeBron and Miami and Cleveland, I think it’s all based on what we’re both chasing. And that’s about it.”

Yet, despite diffusing any rumors of disdain between the two, Pierce went on to remind everyone that he’s still the Truth, and that no matter who he’s up against, he’s not going to back down.

“I think it’s a big part of my success, period — I’m not intimidated by nobody. There’s always going to be great players, there’s always going to be challenges. I think that’s one of my greatest strengths. I’m not afraid to face the challenges, or any match up in the league.”

Though they were ready for the challenge associated with facing James and the Heat, the Nets struggled defensively in Game 1. Miami hammered the Nets inside, to the tune of a 52-28 advantage in points in the paint.

“They were aggressive tonight. They got to the rim. They got points in the paint. They got drives, they got layups, they got cuts to the basket,” No. 34 said. “We’ve got to be better, we’ve got to put up more resistance to that.”

Brooklyn also had its struggles offensively, including some stagnant play with the basketball that resulted in diminished ball movement and just 11 assists. Miami doubled that total with 22.

Brooklyn Nets v Miami Heat - Game 1

However, Paul saw some positives, including a good shooting night from the field (47 percent) and particularly from three-point range (41.7 percent). No. 34 managed just eight points on 3-8 shooting from the floor, but did hit 2-of-4 from three and grabbed six rebounds.

“I don’t think we laid an egg,” The Truth said. “We had one difficult quarter, the third quarter. For the most part we were in the game.”

Indeed Brooklyn fought back and forth with Miami in the first half and led by five early in the game before falling behind by two after one.

The Heat pushed their lead to double-digits early in the second against Brooklyn’s bench, but when the starters returned, the Nets rallied, and a buzzer-beating trifecta by Deron Williams had them down just three at halftime.

However when Miami mounted another run midway through the third, the Nets couldn’t come up with an answer. They trailed by 13 after three and after the Heat raised that advantage to 19 midway through the fourth, Brooklyn coach Jason Kidd elected to leave Paul, Williams and Joe Johnson on the bench to rest up for Game 2.

Kidd relied on his second unit early in the fourth, hoping they would keep a victory within reach. But by the 7:00 mark rolled around, when he would’ve plugged Paul and Co. back in, the deficit had reached 19.

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So rather than use up his starters in a game that was all but in hand, he kept them on the bench. Though No. 34 would’ve liked one last crack at the win, he expressed his trust in his head coach after the contest.

“Kidd’s making the decisions,” Paul said. “We’re sticking with him all the way through. We’re trusting him.”

NEXT UP

After the Game 1 loss, Paul and his teammates remained positive and expressed confidence that their veteran core will be able to put the defeat behind them and refocus on the task of stealing a split in Miami with a Game 2 win.

“We’re not overreacting,” the Truth said. “We feel like we still can get a game in this building. You know, so we’ve just got to think this is minor. I think it’s minor, some of the things we have to do. We didn’t give [any] resistance (Tuesday night) and, you know, we still were in the game for the most part.”

Brooklyn Nets v Miami Heat - Game One

Fans of The Truth seem to agree that the series is a long way from being over:

https://twitter.com/SweaterSports/status/463886877808812033

https://twitter.com/Coach_Suf/status/463851021869928448

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off Thursday from American Airlines Arena in Miami and the game can be seen nationally on ESPN2.

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