Final: Celtics 139, Nets 96 - Celtic dominate from start to finish

Game 52: Celtics (-9) vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBCS Boston 

Injuries: 

Boston: OUT- Danilo Gallinari, Marcus Smart (ankle)

Brooklyn: OUT- Kevin Durant (knee), Ben Simmons (knee), TJ Warren (shin)

Nets probable starters: Seth Curry, Kyrie Irving, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, Nic Claxton

Refs: Sean Wright (#4), Tom Washington (#49), Cheryl Flores (#91)

Last time they played: Celtics 109, Nets 98, January 12 - This game was basically a matter of Brooklyn playing well and making runs, Boston withstanding them, and finding little spots to fire back. Kyrie Irving came out hot and it looked like he might try to drop 50, but he tailed off. The Celtics, meanwhile, kept coming all the way back from whatever the Nets threw at them. Finally, they came out with a huge fourth-quarter run and clamped down on defense to pull away for their fifth win a row. Jaylen Brown missed the game with a groin strain.

A little something about this game: The Nets have been alternating small streaks for a bit here, losing four in a row, winning two, losing two, and now coming into this game having won two. Their win over the Lakers did not include LeBron James or Anthony Davis as opponents. Kyrie Irving is averaging 31.2 ppg over his last 10 games and over his last five, it’s up to 33.2 points on 50.5% shooting overall and 48.8% shooting from 3. Robert Williams returns after missing the last game with a sprained ankle.

How the Celtics win: Put these guys in blenders and take advantage of the Curry/Irving starting backcourt. Do not just try to shoot over the top of them, no matter how tempting that is, because those shots will be there whenever you want. Whoever is being guarded by one of those guys can just rise up and shoot, but making them work harder on defense will lead to breakdowns, easy buckets, fouls, and tired legs to take advantage of defensively. Wear them down, or blow by them as they try to save their legs. 

How the Nets win: Claxton will have to be a beast on both ends of the floor. He’s going to have to have one of his best games ever to help the Nets pull this off. Defensively, he’ll have to not only deter guys on drives, he’ll have to get back and stop dump-offs to Robert Williams or offensive rebounds. Offensively, he’ll have to be a significant lob threat to give Irving and Curry space to operate. 

Things I’m looking for:

- Multiple attacks: The Celtics should score 50 or even 60 points in the paint. It will just take a little extra effort after the initial drive. Just keep driving the ball and there will be a layup line at the rim. 

- Consistency from Jaylen Brown: He woke up late against the Lakers and got back to playing the right way. This could be a chance for him to get back to playing freely and putting a full 48 together. 

- Tatum’s minutes: This is a prime chance to come out strong on national TV, lay the hammer down against a shorthanded team, and then get Tatum a fourth quarter off. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.