The Boston Celtics rolled past the Brooklyn Nets 139-114 on Wednesday, powered by Jayson Tatum’s 36-point performance.
Tatum also recorded 10 assists and eight rebounds, leading Boston to their 10th victory this season. Jaylen Brown added a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Celtics respond strongly after a narrow 117-116 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday.
Brooklyn initially gained a 13-point lead in the first quarter, but Boston surged back, finishing with a season-high 74-point second half.
The Celtics dominated in the third quarter, outscoring the Nets by a wide margin and hitting seven of their 11 three-point attempts.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 23 points, delivering eight assists and six rebounds in a standout performance. The Celtics bench provided crucial support, with Pritchard’s accuracy from beyond the arc, as he made five of his nine three-point attempts, helping Boston expand its lead.
Brooklyn’s Ziaire Williams, who started for a second straight game in place of the injured Ben Simmons and Dorian Finney-Smith, had a season-high 23 points.
Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas contributed 16 and 17 points, respectively, though their efforts weren’t enough to keep the Nets close.
Boston’s defensive intensity was evident throughout the game, especially in the third quarter when Derrick White returned from early foul trouble to score his first points of the night with a three-pointer, igniting a 13-2 run that stretched Boston’s lead to 85-70.
The Celtics ended with a strong shooting performance, hitting 53.8% of their field goals and nearly 48% from three-point range, while limiting Brooklyn to just 50.6% shooting overall.
In addition to Pritchard, other Celtics players also contributed from beyond the arc, with Sam Hauser hitting four threes to add 12 points off the bench.
Boston’s defense kept Brooklyn from gaining momentum, with key steals from Jrue Holiday, who also scored 16 points, and timely blocks from Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard, who added to Boston’s defensive effort.
Brooklyn was plagued by injuries, with notable absences including Ben Simmons, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Dorian Finney-Smith, limiting their depth in critical areas.
