Everything you need to know about the Nets win over the Celtics in OT with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Caris LaVert, Nets hand Celtics worst loss of the year: The Celtics blew a 13-point lead in the final four minutes of regulation, setting the stage for a disastrous 129-120 loss to the undermanned Nets in overtime at the TD Garden on Tuesday night. Caris LeVert erupted for 51 points for the visitors, willing the Nets back from a 21-point deficit by helping the Nets pile up 51 points in the fourth quarter against a Celtics team that was down Jayson Tatum (illness), Gordon Hayward (knee) and Jaylen Brown (hamstring) by the closing minutes. With Kemba Walker stuck on a minutes limit and Marcus Smart fouled out, the Celtics were forced to play an all-bench unit in OT besides Daniel Theis while Brooklyn outscored them 11-2 with LaVert scoring all 11 of Brooklyn’s points in what was easily the ugliest loss of the season for Boston. Jaylen Brown had a team-high 22 points in what was Boston’s second straight double-digit blown lead at home, dropping an easily winnable game to spoil Kemba Walker’s return (21 points in 23 minutes) to the court following a knee injury.
Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown leave game with injuries: Just when the Celtics’ string of injuries appears to be coming to an end, a new one popped up in the second quarter on Tuesday once Daniel Theis fell into Gordon Hayward at the two-minute mark of the second quarter. Hayward finished the half but did not return after intermission as the C’s ruled him out with a right knee contusion. Jaylen Brown added his name to the walking wounded in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter after pulling up lame with a hamstring injury.
With a back-to-back matchup looming in Cleveland on Wednesday and Kemba Walker already expected to rest his knee for recovery purposes, it may be a few more days before the C’s get a chance to play at full strength. Jayson Tatum is expected to make the trip but he and Daniel Theis may be the only members of the usual starting five in uniform.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics held a 13-point lead over the Nets with four minutes remaining in this one before letting go of the rope and allowing the visitors to score 27 points in the final 4:04 of regulation to tie the game up at 118 and send it into overtime.
ONE UP
Theis: The big man has been making a living in his column all season long thanks to his consistency. Despite seeing some reduced minutes thanks to the return of Rob Williams to the lineup, the German center made his first four shots and managed to crack double digits in points for the eighth time in the last nine games with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
THREE DOWN
Fourth-quarter defense: The Celtics gave up the second-most points in a fourth quarter in franchise history after allowing 51 points in the frame, easily the most they’ve given up in a period this season. They got just two stops the entire quarter as LeVert willed Brooklyn’s second unit back into the game late.
Smart: His foul on LeVert at the end of regulation was inexcusable. Theis was contesting well and it was going to be a desperation look so there was no need to reach in and risk a foul. Combine that with an ill-advised charge at the beginning of overtime which effectively ended any chance the C’s had with their skeleton overtime crew and the C’s needed much more out of their veteran guard in this one. A tirade at the officials after the game should cost Smart some money and potentially a game suspension as well.
Brad Stevens: LeVert scored 37 of his 51 points in overtime and the fourth quarter while being surrounded by largely G-League talent from Brooklyn’s bench. Stevens made more personnel choices late, allowing the Nets to climb back from a 17-point fourth-quarter hole.
TOP PLAY
JAYLEN 3️⃣6️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/WL7N8KItoI
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 4, 2020
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Brad Stevens tried to use an easy home opponent to give the bench a confidence boost and it backfired: Brad Stevens had relied on his starters heavily for the majority of the past six games in the midst of a tough schedule stretch. However, with Jayson Tatum sidelined and a reeling opponent in town, Stevens decided to dust off the back-end of his bench, playing four guys in the first quarter that didn’t even see action against the Rockets on Saturday night (Green, Edwards, Kanter, R Williams). The change of pace worked early on as Edwards provided an early spark with a couple of 3s while Javonte Green provided good energy on the defensive end in his first meaningful minutes in weeks. It won’t mean much in the big picture but it was a good spot for Stevens to go deep into his bench (all 13 active players played) to help improve the confidence of some younger guys while getting some rest for the veterans on the front end of a back-to-back. However, once the injuries piled up in the second half, Stevens got too cute with his lineup choices, leaving him with a disastrous loss. Every game matters in the race for the No. 2 seed and this was one that Stevens mismanaged instead of playing the consistent personnel needed to win before it was too late.
Kemba Walker looked rusty but moved well physically: All eyes were on the point guard in this one during his first contest after the All-Star Break. Stevens managed his minutes carefully, even opting to bring him in with the second unit instead of starting in the second half once Gordon Hayward was sidelined to stagger ballhandlers and scorers. While Walker scored 21 points in 23 minutes, he has some key defensive gaffes late and was understandably not his usual self from a shooting standpoint (just 6-of-16 from the field). As injuries piled up in other parts of the roster, the only real positive news out of this one was that Walker looked like his old self from a physical standpoint, showing off the burst that made him one of the best point guards in the East all year. The Celtics will need to take it slow with him but it will be tougher to cover us his defense without a healthy starting five around him.