The Boston Celtics put six players in double figures without leading scorer Kyrie Irving on Monday night, and went on to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at TD Garden in Boston. The loss snaps a Nets six game winning streak.
Boston (27-18) bounced back against a Brooklyn team that beat them two weeks ago 109-102 in New York. The Celtics started fast and had as much as a 13 point first quarter lead. The Nets tied the score several times in the second, before Boston regained control to take a 10 point halftime advantage. With the hosts up 12 in the third quarter, Brooklyn responded with a 17-2 lead to take their first lead 71-68 on a D’Angelo Russell three pointer. The Celtics held a one point lead heading into the final quarter, and an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter made the difference as the Celtics went up 102-90 with 7:13 left. The Nets never got closer than eight the rest of the way, and Boston went up 15 late and held onto for the home win to improve to 3-1 on the current five game homestand.
Irving missed the game with what coach Brad Stevens said was a sore hip, suffered during a fall in the first half of Saturdays loss to Golden State. In Mondays win, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown led the way with 21 points each for the C’s. Smart added seven assists and five steals, while Brown had six rebounds. Aron Baynes had 16 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Marcus Morris had 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Al Horford and Terry Rozier both also chipped in 14 points a piece. Horford added 11 rebounds, five assists, and six blocks, and Rozier added seven rebounds. Russell led the 27-24 Nets with 25 points, four assists, and three steals. Shabazz Napier also added 20 points and five assists. The Celtics had 16 blocked shots in the game. Boston will host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm.
