In his postgame press convention Friday night time, Jaylen Brown stated he believed the Celtics “went by the motions” in a loss to the Nets.
Sunday night time in opposition to the Magic, the Celtics seemed like a workforce that bought the message. It bought considerably dicey on the finish, as a 26-point lead immediately shrunk to 6, however Boston held on for a 138-129 win to maneuver to 9-8 on the season.
Brown led the best way with 35 factors and eight assists, Anfernee Simons added 23 and the Celtics used an 80-point first half (sure, 80) to grab command. Jett Howard (30 factors) and Jase Richardson practically willed the Magic again, however Derrick White and Payton Pritchard offered the ending touches.
The Celtics scored a season-high 138 factors, taking pictures 60 p.c from the ground and 45 p.c from distance.
Forty-eight of these factors got here within the second quarter, marking their second-highest second quarter in franchise historical past. They shot 18 for 23 within the second and 65 p.c from the ground within the half.
2) Flip that frown upside Brown
Brown can drop 35 in his sleep, however his eight assists performed an important position on this one. The Celtics are at their greatest when he’s in assault mode and a menace to each rating and go.
Take a look at this play. The protection has no alternative however to fret about Brown, which leaves Josh Minott (16 factors) vast open within the paint for a simple two.
Neemias Queta was off to a stellar begin earlier than leaving halfway by the primary quarter with an obvious ankle harm.
Luka Garza, who torched the Magic earlier this season, didn’t play. Xavier Tillman didn’t see the ground, both. That meant Boston needed to go small with both Chris Boucher or Jordan Walsh on the 5.
It labored for essentially the most half, till it didn’t…
The Celtics seemed to be properly on their option to a stress-free victory, then Howard and Richardson discovered their circulation and made it a sport.
Generally conditions like that simply occur in basketball, however this one was a bit regarding contemplating it concerned the Magic reserves and the Celtics starters. Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. didn’t even play, and Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane have been on the bench at that time.
Boston did sufficient to hold on, but it surely was far tougher than it ought to have been. This workforce may be very streaky by nature, however holding the defensive depth and execution excessive is crucial transferring ahead.
Simons seems to take pleasure in going through his hometown workforce. He caught fireplace en path to 25 factors two weeks prior, then adopted it up with one other gem Sunday night time.
This one wasn’t fairly as a lot of a barrage as that one, but it surely was spectacular in its personal proper, as he shot 8 for 11 from the ground and 4 of seven from distance.
Right here’s hoping that Jayson Tatum and Simons get to play collectively in some unspecified time in the future, as a result of it will be awfully enjoyable to observe. The child can flat out rating the basketball.
Sam Hauser has been in an uncharacteristic droop. Earlier than Sunday, he hadn’t scored in double figures since Oct. 29 in opposition to the Cavaliers.
This was his first sport with 5 or extra 3-pointers since that one, and he produced 14 factors in whole to focus on a robust all-around sport. Hauser is likely to be the participant who misses Tatum essentially the most.
He’s nonetheless greater than able to lighting it up, nevertheless, and this was a promising signal for a man who desperately wanted one. Hauser even added a uncommon dunk for good measure. That’s how you realize he was feeling it.
Jordan Walsh’s stats might not have popped off the web page on this one, and there are actually just a few performs he would love again, however he seemed assured and in management general.
He bought the beginning, performed exhausting and displayed his passing potential on a candy, wrap-around dish to Brown within the nook. Walsh, like Minott and Hugo Gonzalez, is the kind of participant who doesn’t have to attain to have an effect on the sport on each ends.
If he contributes 15 factors, you’ll actually take it, however he can nonetheless make his presence felt together with his defensive exercise, size and athleticism. He deserves credit score on this one for battling down low and taking part in the 5 in spurts.
The Magic entered with essentially the most free throws made and tried within the league, whereas the Celtics ranked final in each classes.
Naturally, the Magic weren’t fairly as deadly in that space with Banchero out, however the Celtics nonetheless deserve credit score for less than dropping the free-throw battle by two (24-22). That won’t look like an enormous deal, however in a sport like this, it ended up making an enormous distinction.
If there’s one overarching takeaway round this workforce up to now is that there’s no predicting what’s going to occur on a given night time. They will lose to the worst groups, beat one of the best groups and do something in between.
That actually spices issues up and makes for an attention-grabbing viewing expertise. All of us knew this yr could be totally different, however up to now, I’ve been entertained most of the time.
That Nets sport, as irritating because it was for Celtics followers, is previously. Boston responded appropriately and has now received 4 of 5.
Subsequent up is a key NBA Cup conflict with the red-hot Pistons, who’ve received 12 straight as of Sunday night time, Wednesday at 5 p.m. at TD Backyard.
