Boston Celtics (48-19) at Brooklyn Nets (22-43) Recreation #68 3/15/25

The Celtics head from Miami to Brooklyn as they search for again to again wins. The Celtics play the Nets for the third of 4 video games between them this season. The Celtics gained 108-104 in time beyond regulation in Boston on November8. In addition they gained the second sport 139-114 in Brooklyn on November 13. They are going to play for the 4th, and closing, time in Boston on March 18.

The Celtics gained the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 143-74 total all time towards the Nets and they’re 67-40 all time in video games on the street. The Celtics have gained their final 7 video games on the street towards Brooklyn. The Celtics are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games. They’re 6-4 within the second of again to again video games and 2-2 when each video games are on the street.

The Nets went into rebuild mode this off season once they traded their most precious participant, Mikal Bridges, to the Knicks. They obtained Shake Milton in an indication and commerce from the Knicks. They received Bojan Bogdanovic and Ziaire Williams from Memphis. They obtained their very own ‘25 and ‘26 draft picks again from Houston and 5 first spherical picks within the Bridges commerce.

The Nets misplaced Keita Bates-Diop, Jacob Gilyard, Dennis Smith, Jr, and Lonnie Walker IV from final 12 months’s staff. The Nets have been additionally lively on the commerce deadline, sending Dennis Schroder to Golden State for De’Anthony Melton and Reece Beekman. In addition they purchased out Ben Simmons contract, who then signed with the Clippers.

The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 8.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve gained their final 16 video games. They’re 5 video games forward of third place New York and 10.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 25-7 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 32-11 towards Japanese Convention groups. They’re coming off a win over the Warmth of their final sport.

The Nets are thirteenth within the East. They’re 34 video games behind first place Cleveland and they’re 6 video games behind tenth place Chicago, who’re within the closing play in spot. They’re 7.5 video games forward of final place Washington and half a sport behind twelfth place Philadelphia. They’re 19-21 at house and 1-9 of their final video games. They’re 12-29 towards Japanese Convention groups. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.

The Celtics simply completed a 5-2 house stand and are enjoying within the second straight street sport, coming off a win in Miami on Friday evening. After this sport at Brooklyn they may return house to play Brooklyn for the ultimate time this season. They then head out on a 6 sport Western street journey by way of Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. They play 5 of their final 7 video games at house.

The mid-day damage report is out for the Celtics with a couple of anticipated names and a few surprises. The most important shock for me was that Kristaps Porzingis has been upgraded to possible. Derrick White is listed as uncertain after a giant sport on Friday. As anticipated, Al Horford can also be listed as uncertain. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are questionable. My guess is that one in every of them will play (most likely Brown since he was out Friday) and Tatum will probably get an evening off to relaxation his balky knee. With this in thoughts, I’ve included Sam Hauser to exchange the uncertain White and included most likely KP and each of the questionable Jays within the starters.

The Nets have 5 gamers on their damage checklist as of now, with 2 starters out. Nicolas Claxton will sit out this sport for relaxation as it’s the first of again to again video games. Nets main scorer Cam Thomas is out as a result of hamstring damage administration. Noah Clowney is out as a result of an ankle damage. De’Anthony Melton is out with a knee damage. Trendon Watford is out with a hamstring damage. I’m taking a guess that Sharpe will begin for Claxton and Tyrese Martin will begin in Thomas’ spot.

Possible Celtics Starters

Grid View

Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshBaylor Scheierman

Torrey Craig

2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris

Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (knee) questionableDerrick White (knee) doubtfulKristaps Porzingis (sickness) probableAl Horford (toe) uncertain

Head CoachJoe Mazzulla

Possible Nets Starters

Grid View

Nets ReservesKeon JohnsonMaxwell LewisJalen Wilson

Two Approach PlayersReece BeekmanTosan EvbuomwanTyson Etienne

Accidents/Out Noah Clowney (ankle) out De’Anthony Melton (knee) out Nicolas Claxton (relaxation) out Trendon Watford (hamstring) out Cam Thomas (hamstring) out Dariq Whitehead (G-League) out

Head CoachJordi Fernandez

Key Matchups

Grid View

Sam Hauser


Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos

Cameron Johnson


Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Sam Hauser vs Cameron JohnsonJohnson is averaging 18.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 47.8% from the sector and 40.2% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics in 2 video games up to now, he averaged 13.5 factors, 6 rebounds and three.5 assists whereas taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 30.8% from past the arc. He is an effective 3 level shooter and the Celtics have to defend him nicely on the perimeter.

Grid View

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 taking pictures 40.1% from the sector and 30.1% from past the arc. That is his first sport towards the Celtics this season.

Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.3. The Nets are twenty third within the league with a defensive ranking of 115.3. The Nets are averaging 105.3 factors per sport (twenty ninth). The Celtics are seventh within the league averaging 116.8 factors per sport. The Celtics should particularly guard the perimeter because the Nets are eleventh with 38.7 three pointers tried per 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 tenth with 44.9 rebounds per sport. . The Celtics should put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Nets and forestall second and third probability photographs.

Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics want to remain centered and be aggressive from begin to end. The Nets haven’t been enjoying nicely, however they’re nonetheless enjoying exhausting and can all the time attempt to beat the Celtics. The Celtics can’t underestimate them as a result of they’re sitting 5 gamers, together with 2 of their finest starters or as a result of they’re beneath .500 or as a result of they’ve misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games. Regardless of who sits for the Celtics, they need to nonetheless have sufficient expertise to beat the Nets so long as they put within the effort.

Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to return out and be aggressive proper from the opening tip. They should be aggressive on protection, driving to the basket, rebounding, diving for unfastened balls and simply enjoying tougher usually. What the Nets lack in star energy, they make up for with effort. The Celtics have to match their effort and aggressiveness. In addition they should play exhausting proper up till the ultimate buzzer. This Nets staff with out stars play exhausting and win by giving extra effort than their opponents.

X-Elements Street Recreation and Fatigue – The Celtics are enjoying on the street on the second evening of again to again video games, and needed to journey for the sport. They are going to be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go along with enjoying on the street. The Celtics have to give attention to the sport and never on the distractions of journey and enjoying in an unfamiliar area. Hopefully they get manufacturing from their reserves to keep away from fatigue down the stretch.

Who’s Taking part in and Who’s Not – Each groups have lengthy damage lists for this sport. The Nets are resting 2 of their starters together with having 4 others for varied causes. The Celtics have White and Horford uncertain whereas Tatum and Brown are questionable. Surprisingly Porzingis is possible. If he performs, I think about there will probably be a minutes restrict and that he will probably be a bit rusty. I’m going to take a wild guess that Tatum will probably get the evening off and Brown will play. With each groups enjoying quick handed, play of the reserves might be an x-factor.

Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Typically a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different occasions they may allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. The Celtics want to regulate to the best way the sport is named and never let missed calls or unhealthy calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are unhealthy, they only have to play tougher to make up for them and never waste time arguing with the officers.

And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a reside dialog concerning the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you have it, and be part of our group.