Boston Celtics escape late push by Brooklyn Nets, win 115-113

The 48-19 Boston Celtics made the trip to New York City's Barclays Center to face the 22-44 Brooklyn Nets on the road after beating the Miami Heat on their home court the night before, and the Celtics started off the contest playing about as disjointed as one might expect with an 0-5 start from beyond the arc, especially with star big man Kristaps Porzingis returning after a long absence. The issue for Boston early seemed more a matter of re-integrating Porzingis into the flow of the game, as the Latvian center was diving into passing lanes and dunking the ball early in the contest.

Still, the Celtics let the Nets eat too easily in the first quarter, their defensive efforts not at the level one is accustomed to. Boston started to get separation in the second frame, but also racked up fouls in a hurry as they stretched their lead to double-digits. Payton Pritchard pushed it to 18 with a 3 that tied the NBA record for treys off the bench halfway through the quarter, but Brooklyn fought back, Boston finishing the half up 63-51.

Second Half

The Celtics began the penultimate frame with a coach's challenge used against them, leading to a flurry of quick Nets makes that cut the lead to 5. Boston answered with an 8-0 run that gave the Celtics a cushion again midway through the quarter. Despite Brooklyn's best efforts, the Celtics stayed hot and kept the lead in double-digits until the final seconds of the quarter, the Nets cutting the lead to 5.

Boston and Brooklyn traded baskets early in the fourth quarter, but Maxwell Lewis would cut the lead to 3 at the 9-minute mark, and Cam Johnson another to cut it to 2 shortly after. A bevy of Brooklyn fouls kept the Celtics ahead, and Porzingis' first trey of his return gave Boston an 8 point lead.

Pritchard broke the NBA record for 3s off the bench with 6 minutes left in the game. A strong Brooklyn push that cut the lead to 1, but the Celtics escaped with a 115-113 victory.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics escape late push by Nets, win 115-113

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Second Half

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