Nets' Deron Williams on loss to Celtics: 'We looked like crap out there'
It wasn't a good season opener for the Brooklyn Nets.
Brooklyn was blown out by the Boston Celtics 121-105 on Wednesday night in the first game for both teams. The Nets made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference last season and return most contributors except forward Paul Pierce and point guard Shaun Livingston, while the Celtics aren't expected to contend this year.
After the game, Nets point guard Deron Williamssaid the team "looked like crap out there," while new head coach Lionel Hollins was critical of Brooklyn's defense.
The Nets' only lead of the game came when they went up 2-0 to open the scoring. The Celtics went on a 17-1 run to end the first half and led by 26 points at halftime and 29 after the third quarter.
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Boston shot 61 percent in the first half 55.7 percent for the game and took advantage of 21 Brooklyn turnovers.
The Celtics were led by point guard Rajon Rondo's 13 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds as he came back more quickly than expected after September hand surgery.
The Nets were playing without center Brook Lopez, who sprained his foot earlier this month.
Williams had 19 points, eight assists and four turnovers in the game.
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The Nets play the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. The Celtics play the Houston Rockets the same day.
- Ben Estes