Final: Celtics 108, Nets 104 (OT) - C's survive Cam Thomas, cold shooting, to win in OT

BOSTON CELTICS (7-2) vs. BROOKLYN NETS (4-4)

TD Garden, 7:30 p.m. - NBCS Boston

Line: Boston -13.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, ankle), Jaylen Brown (OUT, hip), Luke Kornet (OUT, hamstring)

Brooklyn: Bojan Bogdanovic (OUT, foot), Day’Ron Sharpe (OUT, hamstring), Trendon Watford (OUT, hamstring)

NOTE: I mistakenly wrote tonight was an Emirates Cup game in my Picks ‘n Pops. This is a normal regular season game.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Contain Dennis Schröder: He’s leading the Nets with 7.3 assists per game and is one of the catalysts for the Nets surprising start. I’ve even seen some comments about people wondering if Schröder was too good for a tanking team, so the Celtics should key in on him to take away his passing lanes. 

2. Neemias Queta the rim protector: Brooklyn is a high-volume shooting team, currently sixth in the NBA in percentage of field goal attempts from 3 (46.5%). Boston, not shockingly, leads at 55.7%. And, like Boston, they are not huge on getting to the paint. 

At the same time, Boston’s perimeter defense has been less-than-stellar to start the season. The Celtics need to focus on running the Nets off the 3-point line and into less efficient mid-range shots. Queta at the rim can be part of that plan. I expect less switching and more drop coverage with Queta in this one. 

3. Sam Hauser: He needs more than five shots. I don’t get how the Celtics can be as high volume from 3 as they are and Hauser is averaging only 5.5 per game. Let’s see him get some good looks here. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.