The Boston Celtics continued their impressive run of form with a 118-110 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. The Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA at 41-12, led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter before the Nets mounted a late comeback attempt. However, the Celtics held on to secure their fifth consecutive win and their ninth in the last 10 games.
Tatum shines with 41 points and near triple-double
The star of the night was Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who scored a game-high 41 points on 16-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. Tatum also added 10 rebounds and nine assists, falling just one assist shy of his first career triple-double. Tatum, who was named an All-Star starter for the first time last week, has been on a tear lately, averaging 32.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his last five games.
Tatum was not the only Celtic to have a big night, as Kristaps Porzingis also had a strong performance with 25 points and nine rebounds. Porzingis, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade last month, has been a great fit for the Celtics, providing them with size, shooting and rim protection. Porzingis has averaged 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his 11 games with Boston.
Nets fall short despite fourth quarter surge
The Nets, who were playing without their leading scorer Kevin Durant due to a hamstring injury, struggled to keep up with the Celtics for most of the game. The Nets trailed by 16 points at halftime and by 28 points midway through the third quarter, as the Celtics dominated them on both ends of the floor. The Nets shot just 42.9 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from beyond the arc, while the Celtics shot 53.8 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively.
However, the Nets did not give up and made a valiant effort to get back into the game in the fourth quarter. Led by Kyrie Irving, who scored 18 of his team-high 28 points in the final period, the Nets went on a 32-12 run to cut the deficit to eight points with 2:28 remaining. Irving, who was facing his former team for the first time since leaving the Celtics in 2019, also had six rebounds and four assists.
The Nets had a chance to make it a two-possession game when James Harden, who had 24 points and 12 assists, drove to the basket and drew a foul with 1:40 left. However, Harden missed both free throws, and the Celtics responded with a 7-0 run to seal the win. Harden, who joined the Nets in a blockbuster trade from the Houston Rockets last month, has been averaging 24.4 points, 11.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds in his 13 games with Brooklyn.
Celtics remain atop the Eastern Conference, Nets fall to seventh
With the win, the Celtics improved to 41-12, the best record in the NBA and 2.5 games ahead of the second-placed Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics have been playing at a high level despite missing several key players due to injuries, COVID-19 protocols and trades. The Celtics have been led by their young core of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, who missed Tuesday’s game with a knee injury, and Marcus Smart, who has been out since January with a calf injury.
The Nets, on the other hand, dropped to 21-31, the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and 19.5 games behind the Celtics. The Nets have been inconsistent since acquiring Harden, going 7-6 in their last 13 games. The Nets have been hampered by injuries, COVID-19 protocols and chemistry issues, as they have struggled to integrate their three superstars of Durant, Irving and Harden. The Nets have also been vulnerable on defense, ranking 25th in the league in defensive rating.
What’s next for both teams?
The Celtics and the Nets will face each other again on Wednesday night, this time at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics will look to sweep the home-and-home series and extend their winning streak to six games. The Nets will try to bounce back and snap their four-game losing streak on the road. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC Sports Boston and YES Network.
