On February 9, Beijing time, the Nets and the Celtics, the two major eastern giants, met in the regular season. In this campaign, the Nets' 3 giants James Harden, Kyrie Owen and Kevin Durant are absent. However, the two teams still played a high-quality offensive and defensive performance.
Celtics vs Nets
In the first half, the away Celtics showed excellent competitive form, at one point in the first quarter to a perfect 28-2 start, holding a 26-point lead. The Nets, led by Javin Carter, James Johnson and Griffin, struggled to score points. However, the Greens' Tatum, Brown and Smart all erupted on the offensive end, with the Celtics widening the gap to 28 points at one point in the second quarter. At halftime, the Nets trailed 43-69.
At halftime, the Greens led the Nets by 26 points
3 Giants 41+10, the Green Army broke the Nets to lead by 26 points! Brown storms, Harden Owen KD is out!
In the first quarter, Brown scored from mid-range, Horford scored low, Grant Williams scored on a layup, Brown hit a 2+1, Horford hooked a shot, Brown scored a three-pointer, and the Green Army exploded a perfect 14-0 start. Nash asked for a timeout and Griffin hit a jumper to break the scoring drought for the Nets. Horford hit a long-range shot, Tatum also scored three-pointers, Brown counter-attacked a layup to score four points in a row, Tatum stormed the box to score four points, and the Green Army exploded into an offensive frenzy of 28-2.
James Johnson hit the board, Carter slammed in a three-pointer, James Johnson hooked a shot, Thomas Brown scored, James Johnson hit the basket, and the Nets responded with an 11-0 offensive run. Grant Williams and Schroeder scored in succession, and Carter and Grant Williams shot three-pointers. After the first quarter, the Green Army led 35-16.
In the first quarter, the Celtics led by 19 points
In the second quarter, Duke and Johnson scored six points at the low post, and the Nets narrowed the gap to 13 points. Schroeder scored on a layup, Carter hit a long-range shot, Tatum hit all 2 free throws, Robert Williams and Brown scored with impact, Duke and Smart shot three-pointers, Griffin made a basket, and the Celtics requested a timeout.
Smart's hand was hot, one man scored five points in a row, Brown made a layup, and Griffin made up for a dunk. Robert Williams received a dunk in the air, Carter and Tatum fired a three-pointer, and Nash asked for a timeout. Bruce Brown threw in, Richardson hit mid-range shots, Jaylen Brown hit 2 of 3 free throws, Robert Williams hit a dunk, Mills hit the board, Smart scored another three-pointer, and the Green Army extended the point difference to 28 points. James Johnson dunked, Schroeder and Thomas each scored a single. At halftime, the Greens led the Nets by 26 points, 69-43.
Williams snapped
Celtics 3 giants Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart teamed up to cut 41 points, 10 boards, 10 assists and 2 steals in the first half. The simultaneous development of the 3 giants is the key to the Green Army's ability to maintain a big lead in the half.
Celtics star Jaylen Brown played 18 minutes at halftime, shooting 7-of-8, 1-of-2 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the free throw line, with 18 points, 5 boards and 5 assists. Brown went on a rampage in the first half and he had excellent offensive efficiency. Brown only conceded a 3-pointer in the first half, shooting 88 percent from the field. Brown, who scored the highest score in the half, is also the assist king of the two teams. Moreover, Brown also has a strong output in terms of rebounding protection. Brown's efficient play is the main reason for the Green Army's big score lead.
Bruce Brown with Jason Tatum
The Nets' top 3 stars Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Owen could not play in this game. The absence of the Big 3 led to a major loss in the Nets' strength on the offensive end, which was the main reason why they were broken by their opponents in the half and fell behind by 28 points at one point.
Nets 3 giants Harden, Irving and Durant are out
Half-time stats for both teams
Nets: Durant, Harden, Irving out, Griffin 6 points and 5 rebounds, Mills 2 points, Bruce Brown 2 points, Thomas 4 points and 2 rebounds, Johnson 10 points and 2 rebounds, Carter 12 points, Duke 7 points and 2 rebounds.
Celtics: Jaylen Brown 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Smart 11 points, 1 board, 2 assists and 1 steal, Tatum 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, Horford 7 points and 5 assists, Robert Williams 10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, Grant Williams 5 points, Schroder 6 points.