Inside The Celtics

The Top 5 Plays from Wednesday's Celtics-Nets Game

Wednesday's matchup between the Celtics and Nets is the latest installment in a series breaking down why the game's top five highlights unfolded how they did.

Bobby Krivitsky

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics' setting multiple franchise records and Jaylen Brown besting Kyrie Irving headline the breakdown of the top five plays from Wednesday's Celtics-Nets game.

Jaylen Brown Bests Kyrie Irving

The Celtics came out with considerable energy on Wednesday, and Jaylen Brown made sure it went to good use.

The soon-to-be two-time All-Star set up Boston's first bucket, spinning baseline before feeding a cutting Robert Williams for a dunk.

Two possessions later, on the play shown above, he shakes Kyrie Irving with a quick one, two, going from a between the legs to a behind the back dribble that sets him up for a clean look from beyond the arc.

Brown's Old-School Three-Point Play

Brown's fantastic first frame didn't stop there, as he and his teammates stayed active at both ends of the court, reflected in this play, where he runs a give-and-go with Malcolm Brogdon, then takes off under control, contorts to avoid Day'Ron Sharpe, but still has the hangtime necessary to finish off the glass after getting fouled.

Then came the flex and a made free throw that turned this into an old-school three-point play.

A Rookie Mistake from a Second-Year Player

Sharpe is so concerned about Tatum coming downhill or perhaps having to tag a rolling Robert Williams that he forgets about Al Horford, leaving the veteran center open for a corner three he watches splash through the net.

Jayson Tatum Clinches Franchise Record for Celtics' Star Duo

When Luke Kornet rolls to the rim, he knocks Yuta Watanabe off balance. Their arms even get tangled, making it increasingly difficult for the latter to get out to contest Jayson Tatum's shot.

Perhaps, Sharpe could help the cause, especially since he's on the side of Tatum's shooting hand. But rather than doing so and trusting the defense behind him to rotate, he stays on script, running to get back to Kornet.

But with Tatum open and the final seconds ticking off the clock, he buries a three from 28 feet, a distance that created even more cushion between him and Watanabe.

With that, 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. What's even more impressive is they did so in a game they only played in three quarters.

The Final Frame Brings with it Another Franchise Record

It starts with a Horns set that sees Payton Pritchard deliver an entry feed to Blake Griffin before coming off the screen from Sam Hauser and diving to the rim.

Brooklyn doesn't switch those actions, resulting in Watanabe having to jump out to prevent Hauser from getting an open look from beyond the arc.

But with Sharpe glued to the paint because he's not worried about Kornet doing to him what Horford did in the first half, Hauser skips a pass to Kornet in the corner.

With Watanabe ball watching, Hauser following his pass, and Sharpe not coming to contest, Hauser capitalizes on a clean look at a three. That shot gave Boston 25 makes from beyond the arc, a franchise record at home. The hosts finished 26/54 (48.1 percent) from long range.

Further Reading

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

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

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

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

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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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