The Boston Celtics will attempt to beat the visiting Brooklyn Nets for the second time in as many nights when the teams meet Wednesday in the final game for each side before the All-Star break.
Jayson Tatum collected 41 points and 14 rebounds to help Boston beat Brooklyn 118-110 on Tuesday in New York during the opener of the home-and-home series. It was the third time Tatum scored at least 40 points in a game this season.
“I have a few simple ones,” Tatum stated. “I left during the transition. My free throws came in. I was simply in a good rhythm since I was getting some knockouts for open threes.
After scoring 31 points in the first half, Tatum tied his career best, and the Celtics went on to win five straight games.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla stated, “I think that’s part of his growth as a player—he understands he has to be great for us every night, but it looks different every night.” “I thought the way he manipulated the defence in the second half is another sign of greatness. The first half was true individual greatness.”
For the Celtics, who have won nine of their last ten games with the Nets (13 of 14 if postseason play is taken into account), Jaylen Brown added 19 points.
“Once these high-level guys get going…” stated Brooklyn’s coach Jacque Vaughn. We made some progress in capturing Tatum, but there is a lot of shooting going on. Watching it again will be fascinating to see what changes we can make.
The Nets suffered their fourth straight loss after five games, led by 27 points from Mikal Bridges and 26 from Cam Thomas.
“I believe you have to consider what are the things that put us in a position to defend and give up only 46 points in the second half, especially when you play these guys (Wednesday)?” stated Vaughn. “We need to be able to stop them, maintain our position in front of them, and recover the basketball.”
Day’Ron Sharpe, the backup centre for Brooklyn, made his game debut on Tuesday following a 15-game absence due to a hyperextended left knee. He finished the game with six points and four rebounds.
Al Horford came in for Porzingis and finished with 16 points on 6 of 6 shooting. In 39 games this season, Porzingis is averaging 20.4 points and seven rebounds.
According to Vaughn, forward Cameron Johnson might start on Wednesday. A left adductor strain has kept Johnson out of the last four games. He is averaging 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He is making 45.8 percent of his field goals and 40.1 percent of his three-pointer
Vaughn said forward Cameron Johnson could be back in the lineup Wednesday. Johnson, who has missed the past four games because of a left adductor strain, is averaging 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He is shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from 3-point territory.
Vaughn also said Ben Simmons won’t play Wednesday because it will be the team’s second game in two nights. Simmons finished with five points, eight assists and six rebounds on Tuesday.
The Celtics and Nets will face one other four times this season on Wednesday. On November 4, Boston defeated the Nets 124-114 on the road behind 32 points and 11 rebounds from Tatum. On November 10, the Celtics defeated the Nets 121-107 at Boston behind 28 points from Brown. 19 3-pointers were made by the Celtics in the later victory.
Tatum stated, “We take it one game at a time.” Regardless matter who is out, who we are playing against, or if the game is at 7:30 or 2 o’clock, we attempt to improve with every game. We attempt to approach every game in the same manner.
