Maxwell Lewis’ coming out party spoiled as Nets’ rally against Celtics falls short
NEW YORK — The Nets fell to the Boston Celtics, 115-113, on Saturday in the first game of a back-to-back set at Barclays Center. They are now in sole possession of the fifth-best NBA draft lottery odds.
Brooklyn (22-45) has lost 11 of 13 games since the All-Star break and three in a row since upsetting the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Monday. To worsen matters, it was announced on Saturday that Cam Thomas, the team’s leading scorer, will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season because of a left hamstring strain suffered in Thursday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls.
In addition to Thomas, the Nets played without Nic Claxton (rest), Noah Clowney (right ankle sprain) and Trendon Watford (left hamstring injury management) against Boston.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis were available for the Celtics.
The Nets trailed by just three points after one quarter, thanks in large part to Maxwell Lewis and Jalen Wilson, who scored eight and six points off the bench, respectively. Tatum played the entire first quarter for Boston and scored 11 points.
Brooklyn shot just 8 for 23 in the second quarter while the Celtics went 14 for 23, with three of their makes coming from Brown and four from Luke Kornet. The Nets trailed by as many as 21 points in the period and went into halftime facing a 63-51 deficit.
Lewis, who was acquired from the Lakers in the same trade that brought D’Angelo Russell back to Brooklyn in December, went 4 for 5 from the field in the first half and scored 10 points, reaching double figures for the first time in his NBA career. The second-year forward totaled just 10 points in 51 minutes this season with the Nets and Lakers entering the night.
Brooklyn kept fighting out of the break, starting the third quarter on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to five, but a barrage of 3-pointers from Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser quickly pushed Boston’s lead back up to 13.
The Nets still won the third quarter 30-23, which made it an 86-81 game entering the final frame. Keon Johnson scored eight points in the period and Brooklyn limited the Celtics to 39.1% shooting.
Three 3-pointers on three straight possessions from Lewis, Wilson and Cam Johnson cut it to two with 7:59 left, but Boston pushed its lead back to 11 with 2:44 left. The Nets continued to chip away and found a 9-0 burst late to make it a 112-108 game with 56.9 seconds left. Then Cam Johnson’s second 3-pointer of the night made it a one-point game with 4.5 seconds left.
Payton Pritchard split a pair of free throws with 2.9 seconds left and Brooklyn had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Cam Johnson couldn’t get a final shot off in time.
“There’s no moral victories here, but if that’s going to be our identity, a lot of good things are going to happen,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said.
Lewis finished with a career-high 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting and went 3 for 3 from deep. Cam Johnson and Keon Johnson paced Brooklyn’s starters with 23 and 21 points, respectively.
Porzingis, in his first game back from an eight-game absence, led the Celtics with 24 points and two rebounds in 32 minutes.
While Brooklyn had a 22-2 edge in fast-break points and made 20 3-pointers, Boston shot 52.4% for the game and dominated the paint 52-36.
The Nets will return to action on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.
Topics
-
Nets drop third straight with tight 115-113 loss to Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 points in his return from an eight-game absence with an illness, getting 14 in the fourth quarter to help the Boston Celtics hold off the Brooklyn Nets 115-113 on ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Nets player grades: Cam Johnson scores 23 in 115-113 loss to Celtics
Here are the Brooklyn Nets player grades following Saturday's 115-113 loss to the Boston Celtics.Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Nets vs. Celtics game preview: How to watch, lineups, broadcast info
Here is the game preview of the Brooklyn Nets' matchup against the Boston Celtics on Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 20h -
Nets' Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney out Saturday vs. Celtics
The Brooklyn Nets have ruled out Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney, and Trendon Watford for Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Boston Celtics escape late push by Brooklyn Nets, win 115-113
Payton Pritchard broke the NBA record for 3s off the bench with 6 minutes left in the game as well.Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Nets vs. Celtics betting preview: Prediction, point spread, odds
Here is the betting preview of the Brooklyn Nets' matchup against the Boston Celtics on Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Celtics vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 15
Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 18h -
Celtics vs. Nets odds, line, prediction, start time: 2025 NBA picks, March 15 best bets from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for SaturdayCBS Sports - 13h -
Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (3/15)
With the Nets looking likely to rest several of their key players for lottery odds reasons, this should be an easy win for the CelticsYahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football
Technology has come a long way in the game of football and Rich Rodriguez believes that it certainly has a place.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025
The Washington Commanders are bringing back defensive end Clelin Ferrell for next season.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship
Bishop Stang girls hockey will play Hingham on Sunday in the MIAA Division 1 state championship. Stick here for updates.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency
Where does Shedeur Sanders land in our new mock draft update?Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Indiana women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Hoosiers could land in NCAA bracket
Where could Indiana women's basketball be headed in the NCAA Tournament? Take a look at our March Madness predictionsYahoo Sports - 15m
More in Sports
-
Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football
Technology has come a long way in the game of football and Rich Rodriguez believes that it certainly has a place.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025
The Washington Commanders are bringing back defensive end Clelin Ferrell for next season.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship
Bishop Stang girls hockey will play Hingham on Sunday in the MIAA Division 1 state championship. Stick here for updates.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency
Where does Shedeur Sanders land in our new mock draft update?Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Indiana women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Hoosiers could land in NCAA bracket
Where could Indiana women's basketball be headed in the NCAA Tournament? Take a look at our March Madness predictionsYahoo Sports - 15m