Brooklyn Nets (23-45) at Boston Celtics (49-19) Sport #69 3/18/25

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, sport between these two groups this season. The Celtics received 108-104 in extra time in Boston on November 8. They received the second sport 139-114 in Brooklyn on November 13. Additionally they received the third sport 115-113 in Brooklyn on March 15. The Celtics received the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 144-74 total all time towards 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 sport 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 towards Japanese 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 sport 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 towards Japanese Convention groups and 3-9 towards the Atlantic Division. They’ve misplaced their final 3 video games.

The Celtics are again at residence after taking part in in 2 street video games, profitable in Miami on Friday evening and in Brooklyn on Saturday. They then head out on a 6 sport 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 towards Charlotte.

The Nets are taking part in within the first sport of a 3 sport street journey that may conclude with 2 video games in Indiana towards the Pacers. After 3 video games at residence the place they may face Dallas, Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers, they may play 2 video games on the street, touring to Washington after which to Dallas. They are going to play 5 of their final 6 video games at residence.

Kristaps returned to the beginning lineup on Saturday towards these Nets and may stay within the beginning lineup for this sport. Derrick White was out Saturday with a knee contusion and Al Horford missed Saturday’s sport 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 sport. Jayson Tatum is listed as questionable as a consequence of knee soreness. I’m going to guess that Tatum performs however they could 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 checklist with 2 of these gamers listed as possible and a couple of listed as out. Nets main scorer Cam Thomas has been dominated out for the remainder of the season as a consequence of a hamstring harm. De’Anthony Melton is out for the remainder of the season as a consequence of surgical procedure to restore his ACL. Noah Clowney (ankle) and Ziaire Williams (Achilles) are each listed as possible.

Possible Celtics Starters

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Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshBaylor ScheiermanTorrey CraigAl Horford Luke Kornet

2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris

Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (again) out

Head CoachJoe Mazzulla

Possible Nets Starters

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Nets ReservesNoah ClowneyTyrese MartinMaxwell LewisDariq WhiteheadJalen WilsonDay’Ron Sharpe Trendon Watford

Two Manner 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

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Sam Hauser


Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos

Cameron Johnson


Picture 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 sport. He’s capturing 47.7% from the sector and 40.1% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics in 3 video games to this point, he averaged 16.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists whereas capturing 46.3% from the sector and 28.6% from past the arc. He is an efficient 3 level shooter and the Celtics have to defend him nicely on the perimeter.

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Jrue Vacation


Picture by Issac Baldizon/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

D’Angelo Russell


Picture 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 sport. He’s capturing 40% from the sector and 31.8% from past the arc. He has performed in only one sport towards the Celtics this season and completed with 11 factors, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal, whereas capturing 37.5% from the sector and 20% from past the arc.

Honorable Point out Kristaps Porzingis vs Nic Claxton Claxton missed Saturday’s sport 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 sport. He’s capturing 54.9% from the sector and 6.3% from past the arc. In 2 video games towards the Celtics this season, he averaged 2.5 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 block whereas capturing 33.3% from the sector with no 3 pointers. Porzingis returned on Saturday from his 8 sport absence and put up sturdy numbers towards Day’Ron Sharpe at middle. Hopefully he can do the identical towards Claxton, who is an efficient rebounder and rim protector.

Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive score of 110.4. The Nets are twenty third within the league with a defensive score of 115.5. The Nets are averaging 105.6 factors per sport (twenty ninth). The Celtics are seventh within the league averaging 116.6 factors per sport. On Saturday, the Nets shot 43.5% from past the arc and the Celtics should defend the perimeter higher on this sport.

Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They’ll’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take additional effort on their half beat the Nets on the boards. The Nets are twenty eighth with 41.1 rebounds per sport. The Celtics are eleventh with 44.8 rebounds per sport. In Saturday’s sport, 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 forestall second and third likelihood pictures.

3 Pointers – The Celtics are 1st within the league, trying 48.1 threes per sport. The Nets are eleventh, trying 38.8 threes per sport. The Celtics shoot 36.9% from past the arc, whereas the Nets shoot 34.7% on 3’s. In Saturday’s sport, 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 crew whereas the Celtics shot simply 34.2% from past the arc. If the Celtics wrestle to hit their 3’s, they need to defend the perimeter higher and preserve the Nets from hitting theirs.

Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball with the intention to discover one of the best shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics wrestle. They’re at their greatest after they cross the ball and preserve it shifting. ISO ball is just not normally 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 have to feed off the vitality of the group and hopefully, the Nets might be distracted by journey and the very loud crowd. The Celtics have to take shedding 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 at all times an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house crew 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 have to play nicely sufficient to not depart the sport within the palms of the officers on the finish they usually can’t let dangerous calls take away from their focus.

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