In their first In-Season Tournament game of the year, the Boston Celtics took down the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, earning a 121-107 victory. Al Horford was sidelined for Boston, as his rest nights on back-to-backs returned this year, but the Celtics’ offense outdueled a Nets lineup that was missing its top scorer in Cam Thomas.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way for Boston, a phrase uttered time and time again over the better part of the last decade, letting their scoring lead the way. Brown ended the night with 28 points, while Tatum chipped in with 23 of his own. However, it was the Celtics’ bench that stole the show, as Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Luke Kornet shook off some early-season struggles and gave Boston consistent production throughout the night.
While the Nets were able to stay in the game throughout the first three quarters, a final push from the Celtics in the fourth was enough to put the nail in the coffin.
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First half
Brown and Tatum provided a one-two punch for the Celtics in the first and second quarters, respectively. Brown poured in 12 in the first, but Tatum one-upped him with a 13-point second quarter.
Boston’s bench got off to a nice start, too. Hauser and Pritchard each nailed a couple of threes in the first half, a welcomed sight after some early-season struggles.
Kristaps Porzingis attacked the smaller Nets lineup, as they were without Nic Claxton and Ben Simmons, but Tatum’s and Brown’s red-hot scoring quickly took the lead.
For Brooklyn, Lonnie Walker IV was the primary scorer, dropping 13 points in the first half. Thomas’ absence with an ankle injury was felt, but the return of Cam Johnson helped juice Brooklyn’s three-point attack, which was a focal point of their first-half offense.
Boston’s defensive scheme varied throughout the half, starting with Porzingis dropping back into the paint and adapting to have the Latvian big man roam the perimeter. The Nets’ three-point shooting forced the adjustment, and even after it, Brooklyn was still able to generate good looks when the Celtics’ defense got scrambled.
The Celtics closed the half up 66-54, but the Nets’ fight was evident.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 10, 2023
Second half
Like Brown and Tatum before him, Derrick White decided to fill things up in the third quarter. His driving attack and three-point shooting kicked up a notch in the third after a brutal first half. He finished the period with seven. But Brown, not to be outdone, continued his path of dominance, dropping seven points of his own.
Porzingis’ post game was once again a go-to for Boston when the waters got rocky, as he had a mismatch on every possession with the Nets’ lack of size.
That said, the story of the third, and for the majority of the second half, was Brooklyn’s complete lack of offensive creation. Thomas being out restricted their offensive flow, and outside of catch-and-shoot threes and transition opportunities, the Nets struggled to generate any semblance of consistent offense.
There was far too much dribbling from players who aren’t used to having the ball in their hands, and the Celtics took advantage, forcing bad shots and 24-second violations.
But even though the offensive consistency wasn’t there for the Nets, they continued to battle. Brooklyn made tough shots and hit open threes when they presented themselves, keeping the game manageable heading into the final frame.
Unfortunately for the Nets, that’s when Tatum time happens.
The Celtics superstar kicked it up again in the fourth, nailing some threes and imposing his will on the Nets defense, turning what was once a relatively close game into the eventual blowout the game became.
Tatum’s offensive greatness, mixed with the steady shooting of Hauser and the barren Nets offense, was enough to seal the deal for Boston.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 10, 2023
Final thoughts
While his impact wasn’t as noticeable, Jrue Holiday was quietly one of Boston’s top contributors. He didn’t score in bunches like Tatum and Brown, but he gave the Celtics steady production throughout the night, ending the game with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
Pritchard’s scoring will be the biggest takeaway for fans, but his offensive rebounding was crucial to the Celtics’ success. He snagged four offensive boards on the night, giving Boston multiple second-chance opportunities.
Boston’s bench revival should give fans a reason to quell their worries, as the Celtics’ second unit was crucial in their success against Brooklyn. Pritchard, Hauser, and Kornet led the way, snapping out of the early-season funk they found themselves in.
For the second time in the span of a week, the Celtics took down the Nets, and this time around, it led to a 1-0 start in group play of the In-Season Tournament.
The Celtics’ next game will be on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time against the Toronto Raptors.
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