Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Nets: Tatum and Brown Combine for 57 Points as Boston Makes Light Work of Brooklyn

The Celtics' 139-96 blowout of the Nets wasn't just a product of hot shooting.

Bobby Krivitsky

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics came out firing on all cylinders Wednesday night at TD Garden. The hosts knocked down 62.1 percent of their field goals, including 8/11 (72.7 percent) threes.

They sustained that rhythm throughout a 139-96 blowout against a shorthanded Nets team that showed little fight.

And while it's easy to fixate on what Boston did offensively, the Celtics also played with considerable energy and consistently challenged shots defensively.

That translated to Brooklyn shooting 40.9 percent from the field, including 9/39 (23.1 percent) from beyond the arc.

Now, for a deep dive into a game Jayson Tatum, who scored a game-high 31 points, and Jaylen Brown, who registered 26, combined for 57 in three quarters. It's the 27th time they've each produced at least 25 points in the same game. That's the most by any duo before the All-Star Break all-time, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Misses a Rarity for the Celtics in the First Frame

The Celtics came storming out of the gates, generating 14 points on 6/10 shooting, building a 14-3 advantage at the 8:38 mark.

That included Jaylen Brown getting the ball in the low post on the right side of the floor, quickly spinning baseline by Joe Harris, then finding a cutting Robert Williams, coming from the dunker spot on the left side, for a dunk.

The host's hot start also included Jayson Tatum attacking the basket for a pair of layups, and Brown shook Kyrie Irving for a transition three from the right wing.

Defensively, Boston had Al Horford guarding Irving, a pre-switch that allowed it to mitigate the advantage any screen might produce.

It also helped that Horford did well staying in front of, then contesting multiple Irving misses, as he tried exploiting his one-on-one matchup.

As members of the Celtics' second unit filtered in, the energy remained high, and the shooting sharp, as Tatum started the game 7/8 from the field, including 4/4 from beyond the arc. He played the entire first frame, finishing with 18 points and six rebounds, leading all participants in both categories.

Brown, who logged ten minutes in the opening quarter, buried four of his first five attempts, including all three from long range. He subbed out with 12 points and a plus-28 plus-minus rating.

The Celtics converted on 62.1 percent of their field goals, including 8/11 (72.7 percent) from beyond the arc. They also manufactured 20 points in the paint, had a 6-0 advantage in second-chance baskets, and scored 13 to the Nets' one on the fast break.

Defensively, Boston limited Brooklyn to 28.6 percent shooting from the floor, including 2/12 (16.7 percent) on threes.

The hosts' energy, shot contesting, and scorching hot performance offensively translated to a 46-16 lead after 12 minutes. It's the most points that the Celtics have scored in any quarter this season.

It's also the first time they've held a 30-point advantage after the opening period in franchise history. They led by 31 earlier in the frame.

Celtics' Supporting Cast Does the Heavy Lifting in Second Quarter

The Nets inched closer in the second quarter, staging a 10-3 run bookended by Harris threes. The second one trimmed the deficit to 22, 62-40, with 5:20 left in the first half.

Joe Mazzulla, who during recent media availabilities has expressed more of a willingness to take timeouts earlier in bursts by the opposition, wisely utilized one to help his team as its energy decreased.

It also provided an opportunity to bring Tatum back into the game, again forcing Brooklyn to deal with him and Brown.

But it was Derrick White who scored seven of Boston's ensuing nine points, including burying a three from above the break after the timeout, then attacking the basket for a layup after Grant Williams swatted an Irving attempt at the rim, resulting in a shot-clock violation.

The hosts' swift response after Mazzulla paused play helped them take a 79-45 advantage into halftime. It's the most points Boston's generated in a first half this season, topping the 78 it scored in the first 24 minutes against the Hornets on Nov. 28.

After 24 minutes, the Celtics are shooting 64 percent from the field, including 13/22 (59.1 percent) on threes. They've assisted on nearly half their makes, 14/32. They've also registered 38 points in the paint, 22 on the fast break, and have an 8-0 advantage in second-chance baskets.

Holding an opponent to 45 first-half points in this era is also pretty impressive. Boston has played with a lot of energy at both ends. The Nets are shooting 40 percent from the field, including 6/22 (27.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

Tatum has 23 points, leading all scorers. Brown has 15. Four of the host's five starters are in double figures, with Robert Williams registering 12, plus a game-leading nine rebounds. White has 11 and three assists.

The Celtics got a combined eight points from Brown (five) and Tatum (three) in the second frame and still outscored Brooklyn 33-29.

Third Quarter Reinforces the Nets Don't Have a Comeback in Them

The start of the second half has become even more important to monitor for the Celtics this season. Boston consistently gets off to slow starts in the third quarter, something that could prove costly in the playoffs.

Wednesday night at TD Garden, the energy wasn't as high as it was for most of the first 24 minutes, including careless turnovers by Tatum and Brown.

But there was enough shot-making by Boston to keep pace. Considering the Celtics entered the second half leading by 34, the third period unfolding that way doesn't pose a problem, especially not with the shorthanded visitors lacking energy throughout the evening.

It also doesn't help the cause when Day'Ron Sharpe falls asleep defensively on an inbound pass under the baseline.

The hosts also outscored Brooklyn 8-2 in the frame's final two minutes, including Tatum drilling a three, a pull-up from above the break from 27 feet, giving Boston a 110-72 cushion entering the fourth quarter.

Celtics Able to Rest Starters in Fourth Quarter

Given the Celtics' substantial lead, their starters got the fourth quarter off. Boston opened the final frame with Payton Pritchard, Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet.

That group also paired energy with execution while also capitalizing on sloppy mistakes by an already-defeated opposition.

Less than a minute later, Kornet swatting an Edmond Sumner layup turned into a Williams three at the other end, extending the advantage to 122-78 with 8:22 remaining as the crowd at TD Garden celebrated a victory already well in hand.

And when Hauser buried a three from the low end of the left wing, it gave Boston 25 makes from beyond the arc, a franchise record at home. The hosts finished 26/54 (48.1 percent) from long range.

Tatum and Brown, who both went 7/12 from beyond the arc, became the first teammates in Celtics history to make seven threes in the same game. Remember, they did this in three quarters as Boston cruised to a 139-96 win.

Up Next

The Celtics host the Suns on Friday. The game tips off at 7:30 pm EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game coming out before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

With Jayson Tatum Averaging the Second-Most Minutes Per Game, Joe Mazzulla Addresses Celtics Star's Workload

Marcus Smart Provides Update on Ankle Injury; Says There's no Target Date for His Return

1:1 with Paul Pierce on What the Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Means to Him; Jayson Tatum's Growth, His Evaluation of Boston's Season, and More

Limited Role Has Payton Pritchard Questioning Future with Celtics Ahead of Trade Deadline

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Lakers: The Call That Never Came Helps Boston Rally to Sweep LA

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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