Final: Celtics 116, Nets 95 -- C's cruise to third straight win

The Celtics starting five was back at full strength for the first time in a week on Monday night as Kyrie Irving (eyes) and Marcus Morris (neck) were back healthy. Both showed no signs of rust in their return as Irving (17 points, six assists) and Morris (12 points, 3-of-6 from 3) chipped in their usual efficient scoring nights against an undermanned Nets team that had six players out due to injury, including four rotation players. After falling behind by nine points in the opening minutes due to hot shooting, the Nets (24 turnovers) were dominated for the final three quarters by an efficient Celtics offense that set a new season-high with assists (36) for the third straight game.

Boston goes for their fourth straight win on Wednesday night against the Pacers in a showdown between two of the hottest teams in the league.  

First Half Notes 

• Nets open the game with three straight 3s as C’s defense on the perimeter is soft in transition thanks to Kyrie and Tatum.


• Offense is slowing well though with all five starters getting on the board in opening five minutes for Boston.


• Kurucs having his way with Tatum early, beating him on 3s and on backdoor plays. He’s got 11 of first 17 points for the Nets.


• Ball movement continues to be terrific for Boston with seven assists on first nine makes of the night.


• Smart’s improved 3-point shooting continues with a hot start (4-of-5 from downtown). He’s up to 35 percent on the season from downtown.


• 19-5 run for the C’s after they started the game in a 12-4 hole, largely thanks to a horrific first quarter of ballhandling by the Nets. They coughed the ball up 11 times, which resulted in 13 points for Boston.


• Interesting look for the C’s to go small with Morris at the 5 early in this one against a traditional front line for the Nets. Allowed more run for regulars without digging deeper into the second unit.


• Hayward looking in a nice rhythm for his second consecutive game, knockng down a pair of 3s from downtown.


• Nets are just down too many shooters to make this game interesting with the C’s offense firing on all cylinders. Outside of Kurucs (17 point first half) the Nets started the game 5-of-24 from the field.  

• Kyrie Irving will be back in the lineup for the first time in 2019 after missing the past two games with eye inflammation after taking a shot in the face from Marco Belinelli on New Year's Eve. Marcus Morris is also expected to be back after missing Friday's game with a sore neck to get Boston's lineup back at full strength.


• Robert Williams will miss his sixth straight game with a sore groin but could be back in the rotation later this week.


• The Nets will be down six players on Monday night on the second half of a back-to-back, including key rotation pieces such as Joe Harris, DeMarre Carroll, Allen Crabbe and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. They will have just nine roster players for the matchup and will be missing their top 3-point shooters in Harris and Crabbe.


• Brooklyn has won three straight games despite their influx of injuries and have turned into the hottest team in the association over the last month, winning 12 of their past 15 overall to put themselves back into the East playoff picture (currently hold No. 8 seed). Their resurgence comes thanks to their offense primarily (No. 10 on the season).


• The biggest challenge for the C's tonight besides defending the 3-point line? Keeping the Nets off the offensive glass. They will go big a lot with Jarrett Allen, Kenneth Faried and Ed Davis all expected to get minutes. Davis is the best offensive rebounder in the league while Fared and Allen all grab 10 percent of all misses when they are on the floor.