Everything you need to know about the Nets beating the Celtics 110-96 with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Another third quarter collapse: The Celtics showed some fight for a half without Kyrie Irving (back) and Al Horford (knee) but things got away from them quickly in the third quarter. D'Angelo Russell erupted for 20 of his 29 points in the third period, a similar outburst to his last performance in Brooklyn against Boston which helped the Nets pull away over the final 24 minutes for a 110-96 win. Russell finished with a game-high in points and assists (29 points, 10 assists) to lead five different Nets in double figures as Brooklyn dominated Boston with a 61-48 second half thanks to a woeful performance by the majority of the Celtics starting five.
Gordon Hayward led the visitors with 19 points off the bench but Boston only had three players in double figures as Terry Rozier (two points) and Marcus Smart (nine points) struggled for most of the night.
Celtics value rest over seeding in a rough night for starting five: The decision to rest Irving and Horford in this one shouldn’t come as a complete surprise, but it does put a lot more pressure on Boston in the final five games if they want to secure homecourt advantage in the first round. Irving did travel with the team but was ruled out pregame with a sore back while Horford got his third game off in the past eight days to rest a sore knee. Without them, the starters combined to shoot just 13-of-42 from the field. Without the strong contributions off the bench from the likes of Hayward, Daniel Theis (16 points) and Brad Wanamaker (eight points before fouling out in 13 minutes), this could have been an even uglier defeat.
TURNING POINT
Russell fueled a 25-9 start to the second half for the Nets, who turned a one-point halftime lead into a 17-point edge midway through the third quarter. The Celtics were never able to recover from the outburst, trailing by double digits for the remainder of the contest.
TWO UP
Hayward: The veteran swingman led all Celtics with 19 off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting. He’s now scored 11 points in four straight games since returning from a concussion and attacked the rim well on Saturday night, posting a team-high six free throw attempts.
Brad Wanamaker: He got a tough whistle from officials while fouling out over 13 minutes but his first half stint changed the complexion of the game against a 2-3 Nets zone. Wanamaker got the ball moving and attacked the seams well, knocking down all three of his shots to post eight points and a plus-13 in just 13 minutes.
TWO DOWN
Marcus Smart: With Irving out, the point guard seemed more focused on getting his own offense going than the rest of his teammates. He took 10 shots in 22 minutes, missing seven of them. He dished out just one assist as well, setting the tone for a woeful night of ball movement from the Celtics starting five.
Terry Rozier: Playing in the starting five is generally his night to shine when Irving is out but he struggled mightily on both ends in this one. He was the primary defender on Russell when he went off for 20 points in the third quarter and also managed to knock down just one of his eight shots with several of his looks coming on wild drives to the rim. He has scored just three points in 42 minutes over his past two games.
TOP PLAY
YEAH RIGHT pic.twitter.com/MAfJ3gw5g3
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 30, 2019
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
It’s time to cut back on Rozier and Morris: Brad Stevens talked after the game about the need for his team to value more possessions more, yet he keeps rolling out the likes of Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris for 25-30 minutes a night. I understand the Celtics were shorthanded in this one without Horford and Irving but they still have plenty of capable bodies at the end of the bench in Semi Ojeleye and Wanamaker specifically that played well in their limited minutes in this one. Stevens can’t complain about the way his team plays and then go away from the guys that are playing the right way (Ojeleye didn’t play second half). If Stevens wants a defensive-minded team, he needs to go with the guys that give that level of commitment. Wanamaker and Ojeleye deserve a chance to play more in the final few regular season games here and make a case for more minutes for themselves after watching the same guys take the same bad shots and make the same defensive mistakes over and over all year.
Gordon Hayward is going to find his way back into the starting five by the end of the postseason: Stevens seems to be set on a Horford/Baynes front line against the Pacers for now, but Hayward has the size, speed and rebounding ability to make Stevens reconsider that arrangement if the likes of Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young keep abusing Baynes off the dribble and from the perimeter once the postseason hits. Hayward has played strong basketball since his return from a concussion and provides reliability and versatility on the defensive end that this team has lacked most nights. I’m not sure how long it will take to make the switch but my guess is Hayward will get his chance with the starters again before this season draws to a close.