The Celtics search for their third straight win and their fiftieth win on the season as they host the Brooklyn Nets. That is the 4th, and remaining, recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics received 108-104 in time beyond regulation in Boston on November 8. They received the second recreation 139-114 in Brooklyn on November 13. Additionally they received the third recreation 115-113 in Brooklyn on March 15. The Celtics received the collection 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 144-74 general all time in opposition to the Nets and they’re 76-34 all time in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 8.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who misplaced their final recreation after profitable 16 straight. They’re 6 video games forward of third place New York and 10.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 23-12 at residence and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 34-11 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and 9-2 vs Atlantic Division groups. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The Nets are thirteenth within the East. They’re 33.5 video games behind first place Cleveland and they’re 5.5 video games behind tenth place Chicago, who’re within the remaining play in spot. They’re half a recreation behind twelfth place Philadelphia and seven video games forward of final place Washington They’re 12-23 on the street and 2-8 of their final video games. They’re 13-30 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and 3-9 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’ve misplaced their final 3 video games.
The Celtics are again at residence after enjoying in 2 street video games, profitable in Miami on Friday evening and in Brooklyn on Saturday. They then head out on a 6 recreation Western street journey starting on Friday in Utah, and persevering with by way of Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. They play 5 of their final 7 video games at residence, together with the ultimate 2 video games of the season at residence in opposition to Charlotte.
The Nets are enjoying within the first recreation of a 3 recreation street journey that may conclude with 2 video games in Indiana in opposition to the Pacers. After 3 video games at residence the place they’ll face Dallas, Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers, they’ll play 2 video games on the street, touring to Washington after which to Dallas. They’ll play 5 of their final 6 video games at residence.
Kristaps returned to the beginning lineup on Saturday in opposition to these Nets and may stay within the beginning lineup for this recreation. Derrick White was out Saturday with a knee contusion and Al Horford missed Saturday’s recreation due because it was the second of again to again video games. Each Horford and White are off the present harm report. Jaylen Brown left the sport on Saturday with again tightness and is out for this recreation. Jayson Tatum is listed as questionable as a result of knee soreness. I’m going to guess that Tatum performs however they might put their foot down and make him sit out earlier than the journey out west. I’m guessing that Hauser begins for Brown and, if Tatum sits, Horford will get the beginning.
The Nets have 4 gamers on their harm listing with 2 of these gamers listed as possible and a pair of listed as out. Nets main scorer Cam Thomas has been dominated out for the remainder of the season as a result of a hamstring harm. De’Anthony Melton is out for the remainder of the season as a result of surgical procedure to restore his ACL. Noah Clowney (ankle) and Ziaire Williams (Achilles) are each listed as possible.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshBaylor ScheiermanTorrey CraigAl Horford Luke Kornet
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (again) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Nets Starters
Grid View
Nets ReservesNoah ClowneyTyrese MartinMaxwell LewisDariq WhiteheadJalen WilsonDay’Ron Sharpe Trendon Watford
Two Approach PlayersReece BeekmanTosan EvbuomwanTyson Etienne
Accidents/Out Noah Clowney (ankle) probableZiaire Williams (Achilles) probableDe’Anthony Melton (knee) out Cam Thomas (hamstring) out
Head CoachJordi Fernandez
Key Matchups
Grid View
Sam Hauser
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
Cameron Johnson
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Sam Hauser vs Cam JohnsonJohnson is averaging 19.1 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and three.2 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 47.7% from the sphere and 40.1% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics in 3 video games thus far, he averaged 16.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists whereas capturing 46.3% from the sphere and 28.6% from past the arc. He is an efficient 3 level shooter and the Celtics must defend him properly on the perimeter.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Issac Baldizon/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
D’Angelo Russell
Photograph by Patrick McDermott/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs D’Angelo RussellRussell is averaging 12.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 40% from the sphere and 31.8% from past the arc. He has performed in only one recreation in opposition to the Celtics this season and completed with 11 factors, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal, whereas capturing 37.5% from the sphere and 20% from past the arc.
Honorable Point out Kristaps Porzingis vs Nic Claxton Claxton missed Saturday’s recreation however is predicted to play on this one. He’s averaging 10.2 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 54.9% from the sphere and 6.3% from past the arc. In 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 2.5 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 block whereas capturing 33.3% from the sphere with no 3 pointers. Porzingis returned on Saturday from his 8 recreation absence and put up sturdy numbers in opposition to Day’Ron Sharpe at heart. Hopefully he can do the identical in opposition to Claxton, who is an efficient rebounder and rim protector.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.4. The Nets are twenty third within the league with a defensive ranking of 115.5. The Nets are averaging 105.6 factors per recreation (twenty ninth). The Celtics are seventh within the league averaging 116.6 factors per recreation. On Saturday, the Nets shot 43.5% from past the arc and the Celtics should defend the perimeter higher on this recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They’ll’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take further effort on their half beat the Nets on the boards. The Nets are twenty eighth with 41.1 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics are eleventh with 44.8 rebounds per recreation. In Saturday’s recreation, the Celtics have been out-rebounded 45-38. The Celtics should put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Nets and stop second and third likelihood photographs.
3 Pointers – The Celtics are 1st within the league, trying 48.1 threes per recreation. The Nets are eleventh, trying 38.8 threes per recreation. The Celtics shoot 36.9% from past the arc, whereas the Nets shoot 34.7% on 3’s. In Saturday’s recreation, the Nets tried 46 threes whereas the Celtics took simply 38. Extra essential was the truth that the Nets shot 43.5% from 3 as a group whereas the Celtics shot simply 34.2% from past the arc. If the Celtics battle to hit their 3’s, they have to defend the perimeter higher and preserve the Nets from hitting theirs.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball to be able to discover the very best shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics battle. They’re at their finest after they move the ball and preserve it shifting. ISO ball isn’t often profitable ball. On Saturday, the Nets had 34 assists whereas the Celtics had simply 29. The Celtics are 34-2 after they have extra assists than their opponent however simply 13-16 after they have fewer assists than their opponent. They should preserve the ball shifting and discover the open man.
X-Elements House Sport – The Celtics must feed off the vitality of the group and hopefully, the Nets can be distracted by journey and the very loud crowd. The Celtics must take dropping on their residence court docket personally and make residence court docket benefit a energy going into the playoffs. The Celtics want to guard residence court docket.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house group and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the occasions on the court docket. At instances they miss essential calls that change the momentum of the sport. The Celtics must play properly sufficient to not depart the sport within the arms of the officers on the finish and so they can’t let unhealthy calls take away from their focus.
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