'So many questions': NBA play-in game halted after spectator's strange act

NBA fans were left amused and perplexed in equal measure after a spectator's bizarre attempt at a court invasion and protest.

The play-in tournament game between the L.A. Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves was briefly delayed in the second quarter when a woman ran down from the stands and attempted to glue herself to the court underneath the basket.

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Players looked on in confusion as NBA officials and security at the Target Centre in Minnesota attempted to remove the woman from the floor.

In the meantime, fans on social media simply couldn't believe what they were seeing.

The broadcast crew for the game were left confused by what they were seeing, with sideline reporter Allie LaForce later reporting that the woman had tried to glue herself to the floor before refusing to leave the venue.

The woman was apparently an animal rights protester, who was reportedly trying to make a statement related to Timberwolves majority owner Glen Taylor's chicken farm.

Her shirt read, "Glen Taylor Roasts Animals Alive."

A group named 'Direct Action Everywhere' claimed responsibility for the woman's actions.

The Timberwolves are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018, when they broke a 14-year playoff drought lead by Jimmy Butler.

The Clippers, who remain without injured All Star Kawhi Leonard, will be hoping they can return to the Western Conference Finals after an excellent post-season run last season.

The winner of Tuesday's game will earn the 7th seed in the Western Conference, with the loser to face the winner of 9th placed New Orleans Pelicans and the 10th placed San Antonio Spurs for the eighth seed.

Brooklyn Nets win through to NBA playoffs in 7th seed

The earlier Eastern Confernce play-in match was fortunately kept free of glue-related disruptions, with the Brooklyn Nets outclassing a spirited Cleveland Cavaliers outfit to earn 7th place.

The Nets will now face the Boston Celtics in a first round playoff series thanks to the 115-108 victory.

Kyrie Irving had 34 points and 12 assists while Kevin Durant added 25 points and 11 assists for the Nets, who raced to a 20-point lead after one quarter.

Irving made his first 12 shots before a 3-pointer rimmed out in the fourth quarter. He finished 12 for 15.

A pre-season NBA Finals favourite who sputtered through a turbulent season and were in 10th place entering the last week of the regular season, the Nets have run off five straight wins. With Durant and Irving, they are far more dangerous than the usual No. 7 seed.

And both are willing to give the ball to teammates who are capitalising when they get it. Bruce Brown had 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Andre Drummond scored 16 points.

Darius Garland scored 34 points for the Cavaliers, who have another chance to earn the No. 8 seed. They will host the winner of the Atlanta-Charlotte game on Friday, with the winner moving on to face No.1 seed Miami.

The Nets made nearly 71 per cent of their shots in the first quarter — Irving and Durant combined to make all eight of theirs — and closed the period with a 15-3 spurt that made it 40-20. It was a bigger lead than Brooklyn had in any first quarter during the regular season.

Australian Patty Mills played 17 minutes off the bench for the Nets, scoring six points.

Nets coach Steve Nash said Mills' countryman Ben Simmons was moving better and doing more shooting, but there still was no timetable for when he could finally play for the Nets.

With AAP

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