It was a brand-new beginning lineup for the Boston Celtics tonight, as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had been each dominated out on account of knee accidents. Of their absence, they discovered a more durable check of their second consecutive recreation in opposition to the NBA Lottery-hopeful Brooklyn Nets than they may have in any other case. Due to a shocking efficiency from rookie wing Baylor Scheierman, although, the Celtics rode a robust second half to a 104-96 win.
Al Horford and Sam Hauser joined the beginning lineup, however the breakthrough efficiency tonight got here from a way more sudden supply. Scheierman introduced himself in a loud vogue tonight, scoring a career-high 20 factors in simply 16 minutes of play, flattening six of his seven three-point makes an attempt. Kristaps Porzingis added a full stat sheet, scoring 25 factors, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing three assists and recording 4 shares, whereas Derrick White added 18 factors however struggled with effectivity, taking pictures simply 6-of-19 from the sector. For the Nets, D’Angelo Russell scored 18 factors and Ziaire Williams added 15.
Enjoying his second recreation since getting back from an prolonged absence on account of a viral sickness, Porzingis was the anchor for the Celtics early, scoring their first seven factors of the sport. Regardless of the spirited begin from the Latvian heart, although, the Celtics shortly discovered themselves in a scrap in opposition to a plucky younger Nets workforce. Brooklyn loved a sizzling offensive begin, taking pictures 50% from the sector with eight gamers scoring a minimum of one basket (and none greater than two) within the first quarter. Their egalitarian method earned them an early edge in opposition to a sluggish Celtics workforce (37% taking pictures), and the Nets took a 26-21 lead into the second quarter.
Absent their two superstars, Boston’s offensive malaise carried over into the second quarter. They sorely lacked a major creator, with White and Vacation combining to shoot 4-of-15 within the half as the first ballhandlers. To their profit, although, the Brooklyn offense cooled as properly, and Porzingis continued to emphasize their frontcourt defenders, matching his first quarter scoring whole with one other seven factors within the second. The shorthanded Celtics discovered themselves in a dogfight tonight, however they nonetheless trailed by simply 5 factors on the halftime break, 49-44.
The Celtics discovered some life within the early minutes of the second quarter, lastly discovering a little bit of a groove offensively. White tripled his first half output with three buckets within the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, and Porzingis — regardless of a pair of sloppy turnovers — continued to excel, recording his 900th profession blocked shot within the course of. Boston shortly pulled inside some extent of Brooklyn’s lead, and as White’s resurgent quarter continued — he scored 13 within the third — they lastly put themselves again on prime with slightly below 5 minutes to play within the third. After a modest Nets run, buzzer-beating three from Scheierman would give the Celtics a one-point lead in to the ultimate quarter, 71-70.
The 2 groups traded blows via the early minutes of the fourth quarter, the lead remaining inside a possession or two. Of observe was Porzingis’ minutes restrict; having performed 32 minutes and all the fourth quarter in opposition to the Nets on Saturday, his involvement within the fourth quarter was some extent of intrigue. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla opted to search out Porzingis some relaxation within the early minutes of the fourth quarter, and his remaining minutes whole landed at 29.
Close to the halfway level, the Scheierman breakout recreation hit a fever pitch. The rookie ahead linked on consecutive threes for Boston with simply over six minutes remaining in regulation — his fourth and fifth of the sport — to determine the Celtics’ largest lead of the night at 4 factors, 84-80. His sixth adopted not lengthy after, and the entire sudden, he led all Celtics scorers with 20 factors and counting. The outburst was precisely what Boston wanted — Scheierman checked out of the sport with 4 minutes to play, the Celtics main by six, and the lead solely grew from that time onwards.
Subsequent up, the Celtics will resume a road-heavy portion of their schedule, visiting the Utah Jazz for the primary of six consecutive video games exterior of the TD Backyard, this Friday at 9:30 PM EST on NBC Sports activities Boston.
