When the Brooklyn Nets first played the Boston Celtics this season, I wrote about how both teams were at or near the same competitive skill level. After all, it was way back in late November and Boston was a mediocre 7-7. They sat just two spots ahead in of Brooklyn in the East, and were still looking to find rhythm with a newly reconstructed roster.
What a stupid, hilarious assertion.
In the time since, Brooklyn’s been the Yin to Boston’s Yang. They’ve gone 13-31 while Boston’s gone 30-13. The Celtics
are knocking on the postseason door for a 12th straight season, while the Nets are knocking on heaven’s.
Sometimes, you just have to say it when you can.
But tonight, the Nets certainly couldn’t, not that I or anyone expected them to be able to.
The Nets fell behind quickly in game no. 59. Brooklyn turned it over three times in less than three minutes of play to open the contest. The Celtics did what they do, and have somehow continued to do for years even with significant roster turnover, beginning the game 6-6 from deep.
Josh Minott also played his first non-garbage time minutes for the Nets, coming in with about four to play in the opening frame. While Boston remained ahead during them, they gave us something to celebrate.
The 23-year-old forward pitched in four points and was a +5 in his four first quarter minutes. He put the athleticism that always made him an intriguing prospect on full display while creating for himself and others….
Seconds after soaring past Hugo González for a jam on the break, he went over Nikola Vučević and Day’Ron Sharpe for his next two just before the horn…
Following their new teammate’s lead, Brooklyn kept attacking the paint in the first half, even as Boston continued to advertise the 3-pointer as a viable offensive weapon. The Nets outscored the Celtics inside 32-22 in the first half. They pushed to the cylinder anytime they could on the break and weren’t bashful about attacking known rim-receptionist Vučević.
And while the Celtics still led at halftime by a 66-57 margin, shooting 12-20 from deep by that point, Brooklyn made clear progress. Just 24 hours removed from a game where they lost the turnover battle 15-8 and finished -10 in points off them, they were winning it 8-4 and with a +6 advantage through two vs Boston. They also put the Celtics at the line for just 11 first half shots after giving San Antonio 21 attempts in the first half last night.
Nevertheless, Boston started the second half 5-5 from the field, jumping up by two touchdowns less than three minutes into the third. The Boston three-party raged on in the process. The Celtics went 5-7 from deep in the period, hitting skip passes and leveraging around screens like a well-oiled machine they are. Between a quick five from Egor Dëmin, who was scoreless in the first half, and Nolan Traoré probing and creating, the Nets tried to hang around, but if they did, it was only by a coogi thread.
Brooklyn went into the fourth down 109-83. Then, after the Celtics started a perfect 4-4 from the field again, they were down 117-83.
So, that meant extended garbage time, and a look at a Net with even less experience in a Brooklyn uniform than Minott. This morning, the Nets signed rookie Grant Nelson to a 10-day contract. The Alabama product checked in with 9:50 remaining. He ended up tallying three points, dishing four assists, and blocking two shots.
Ben Saraf, who the Nets swapped in from Long Island with Drake Powell, also logged nine minutes down the stretch. His first few weren’t as memorable as Nelson’s, as he got called for an illegal screen just seconds after checking in. However, he did rebound, putting in seven points while shooting 3-3 from the field.
An honest man would remind you that all that production came against Boston’s deep bench guys, but the ultimate beat down Boston delivered was sobering enough. The Celtics seemed to have an extended magnet ball at times that even passed the test of a few “heat check” heaves from Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard. Those two combined for 50 points on 18-24 shooting from the field and 8-9 from three. Pritchard finished as a +40 in 28 minutes.
Even Ron Harper Jr., who’s appeared in just 14 games and 11-42 from deep this year, dusted himself off, came in, and buried a three in the final two minutes. The Celtics collectively shot a ludicrous 22-34 from three. It’s hard to make the story about anything other than that.
Final: Boston Celtics 148, Brooklyn Nets 111
Next Up
The Nets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third and final time this season at the Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon. Brooklyn hasn’t beat the Cavs since their hold skipper Kenny Atkinson took over the team in in 2024. This one tips off at 3:30 p.m. EST.
