The Brooklyn Nets are possibly one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Brooklyn is on a 3 game win streak with a 17 point win over the Chicago Bulls Sunday night, and they look to win their 4thstraight as they take on the Boston Celtics.
The Nets are now in the 7th spot with a record of 20-21, going 12-3 in wins since December 7th. Bostons Coach, Brad Stevens said, “I’d be awfully surprised if they’re not in the playoffs.” Lets see if they can make the playoffs; and winning against the Celtics puts them in a great spot as they are half a game out of the 6th spot.
With 4 straight treys from Kurucs, Russell and Napier, the Nets were off to an electrifying start. From outside shooting, to cuts to the basket, the Nets looked confident opening the 1st quarter. However, the Celtics would respond, draining 3’s of their own, as Marcus Smart lights up from the court. Late in the 1st quarter the Nets performed their 4th turnover, and Boston capitalized scoring 9 points off the Nets’ carelessness. The Nets would trail by 12 (34-22) at the end of the 1st quarter.
The offensive barrage continued as the Celtics start the 2nd quarter on a 7-0 run, leading by 18 early in the 2nd. The basket seemed to be large for the Celtics as their shots continued to fall, while Brooklyn suffered offensively from the floor; struggling both outside and inside the paint. As they Nets struggled, the Celtics continued to make their jumpers; taking a 13 point lead down the stretch of the 1st half. With 12 turnovers, and shooting 30.8% from the field, the Nets found themselves trailing at the close out of the 1st half. After coming out making 5 straight 3’s since then they were 4-20 from downtown.
The Nets would have to look to take much better care of the ball and execute the offense in order to get back in the game. As the 2nd half was underway they Nets looked aggressive, as they controlled the pace of the game, they cut the Celtics lead to 5, (59-54). But Boston would answer with a 17-6 run, as they continued to stretch the lead late in the 3rd.
The 4th quarter would prove to be the end for the Nets. The Celtics would not give any room for a comeback, and the Nets would continue to turnover the ball. As the Celtics led by 24 late in the 4th, the Nets would not recover.
The Celtics defeat the Nets 116-95.
- Shabazz Napier Gets A Start- With Carroll and Harris out of the lineup, Napier found himself a start; though he started the game draining a trey, he would go 2-9 from 3, on the night. Finishing with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
- Kurucs, The New Splash Brother- Rodions Kurucs kept the Nets in the game for as long as he could. With stellar shooting outside and a few cuts to the basket, he led the Nets with 24pts. Going 5 for 8 from 3 point territory. His performance would not be enough to secure the win.
- The Fro Goes Cold- Allen had a quiet offensive night going scoreless for almost 2 quarters. He scored a low of 6 points, and 8 rebounds.
- Down Goes Faried- Kenneth Faried finished with a double double on the night; 13pts and 12rebounds, but in the final minutes of the 4th quarter he landed awkwardly on his ankle, and hopped off the court.
- Shorthanded- While the Nets are banged up right now, with much of their roster out of the lineup, they will have to find ways to protect the ball, and tighten up.
The Nets look to win against the Atlanta Hawks, as they host them in the Barclays Center Wednesday night.