The Boston Celtics entered this matchup having gained eight of their final 9 video games in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets, and that streak of dominance continued on Tuesday.
The Celtics opened up this contest with three straight buckets out of post-ups, which has been a degree of rivalry amongst sure circles on social media currently.
Coincidence? Maybe…
Boston is among the most effective groups within the league in these conditions, and that development continued early as a part of a balanced offensive assault by the Cs. They operated with intention in transition early, racking up a bunch of simple baskets. Seven minutes into the sport, each starter had scored and recorded an help.
As an alternative of their normal onslaught from behind the arc, the Celtics opted to punish Brooklyn within the paint, racking up 20 first-quarter factors in that space. In the meantime, the Nets saved issues shut with a three-point barrage of their very own courtesy of Lonnie Walker IV and outdated good friend Dennis Schroder.
The triples began falling late within the first, as Sam Hauser received the ball rolling – eclipsing 1,000 career-points – earlier than Tatum hit three straight of his personal from deep.
That late flurry of long-range buckets opened up a 36-30 lead for Boston on the finish of the primary. Tatum led the way in which with a fast 16 factors, which marked his season-high within the opening quarter.
The new taking pictures continued to open the second, with every group sitting comfortably above 50% from the sector. The elite offensive rebounding duo of Payton Pritchard and Oshae Brissett wreaked havoc on Brooklyn’s glass of their temporary stint collectively, though their contributions didn’t translate to an prolonged lead for Boston.
Tatum checked again in with simply over seven minutes left within the half and picked up the place he left off, burying his fourth triple to stay excellent from lengthy vary. The famous person ahead then proceeded to select on Cam Thomas, hitting a troublesome midrange jumper over the smaller guard effortlessly.
Amidst the Tatum takeover, Brown additionally quietly labored his means into double digits by way of a myriad of baskets.
We have been handled to some Joe Mazzulla thoughts video games halfway by means of the second, as he opted to deliberately foul Ben Simmons and put him on the line. The outcomes have been combined as Simmons went 2-4 from the charity stripe, however when he checked out of the sport Mazzulla didn’t cease! Nic Claxton was his subsequent goal, and this time the large man hit each makes an attempt.
The outcomes have been combined, nevertheless it was definitely an entertaining thought from Boston’s head coach.
Whereas the Hack-a-Shaq antics occurred, Tatum continued to rack up the factors on the opposite finish of the ground at a fast charge.
The famous person completed with a ridiculous 31 to go together with six rebounds and three dimes on the half as Boston gapped the result in 72-57.
The Celtics picked up proper the place they left off to open the second half as Jrue Vacation hit a triple. Recognized bucket-getter Cam Thomas went on a mini-run of his personal to maintain the Nets inside hanging distance, however Boston continued to fireplace away from lengthy vary.
The Cs proceeded to get slightly sloppy on each ends of the ground, turning it over and permitting too many offensive rebounds. Sadly for the Nets, they lacked the scoring firepower to essentially make Boston pay for his or her errors.
That small window of alternative for Brooklyn closed shortly as Tatum took over as soon as once more, hitting a 3 in entrance of New York native Russell Wilson — and stopping to say one thing to him afterwards — earlier than throwing down one other dunk in transition.
The 2 sides traded baskets for the rest of the third and Boston held a 16-point lead with 12 minutes left to play.
The sloppiness returned to open the fourth on each ends of the ground, because the groups shot a mixed 1-8 from the sector. Brooklyn then went on an prolonged 11-1 run to get inside six factors earlier than Derrick White lastly snapped it with Boston’s first area objective of the quarter.
White’s three reignited the Celtics’ offense, as they wasted no time pushing the lead again to double digits. A sequence of ridiculous Cam Thomas pictures and poor Boston possessions gave Brooklyn an opportunity, forcing the Cs to execute within the clutch as soon as once more.
As he has completed many instances this season, Derrick White answered the decision with a large three. Following a defensive cease, White discovered himself on their own in transition, placing the icing on the cake with a dunk to clinch the 118-110 victory.
Tatum completed with 41 factors to prepared the ground, whereas each Boston starter racked up a minimum of 14 en path to their forty second win of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
Subsequent up, it’s Spherical 4 of Celtics-Nets on the season at some point later in Boston. The Cs host Brooklyn Wednesday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
