Boston Handles Brooklyn in First Matchup of the 25-26 Season
The Boston Celtics handled business on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, shaking off early struggles to earn a 113-99 victory over the Nets and extend their winning streak. It was the first of two matchups this week between the teams, and Boston’s second-half performance once again proved too much for a young Brooklyn squad still searching for stability. The Nets entered the night playing with confidence after Sunday’s win over Washington and staying competitive for nearly three full quarters. However, despite Brooklyn’s energy and fast pace, the Celtics’ experience showed as they ultimately outscored the Nets by 10 in the fourth quarter. With Jayson Tatum still recovering from an Achilles injury, Boston relied on the roster's depth and strong perimeter shooting.
Brooklyn’s opening burst was easily one of their best starts of the year, as they drilled four of their first five threes and raced out to an 18-9 lead behind high-tempo offense. They dominated the transition game with a 13-0 first-quarter advantage and shot five for 10 from deep in the early minutes, giving the home crowd a rare jolt of momentum. However, Boston dampened the storm, shooting 52.6% in the first quarter and clawing back to tie the game at 29 behind Payton Pritchard’s 11 quick points. The second quarter continued at a rushed pace as Michael Porter Jr. and Anfernee Simons traded buckets, but two timely Celtics threes helped Boston take a slim lead into halftime. Although the Nets shot an impressive 10-of-17 in the period, Boston’s offensive rhythm never slipped.
Even in trailing, Brooklyn turned the first half into a showcase of athleticism and hustle. The Nets racked up 22 fast-break points while forcing 12 Boston turnovers. Porter poured in 18 points in the opening half, and rookie Egor Demin provided one of the highlights of the season, drilling all four of his threes. Brooklyn shot a season-best 50% from deep through two quarters and capitalized on nearly every Celtics mistake. However, this has been the case in multiple losses this season; their third-quarter issues resurfaced at the worst time.
Boston opened the second half on a 13-4 run, pushing ahead by 10 and forcing a timeout. While the Nets clawed back defensively, holding Boston to 38.9% shooting in the quarter and forcing five turnovers, they never fully regained control. A Porter three briefly put Brooklyn ahead early in the fourth, but Boston immediately responded with an 8-0 run that swung the momentum firmly in their favor. From there, the Celtics’ composure carried them to the finish line, stretching the lead to double digits as Brooklyn’s offense sputtered. Jaylen Brown finished with 29 points, including 17 in a dominant third quarter that helped Boston regain control of the game.
While the Nets fell, they delivered one of their more competitive defensive efforts, finishing with a season-high 12 steals and showing continued growth. Porter led the Nets with 25 points and six rebounds. Brooklyn’s young core also all saw extended late-game minutes as the Nets continued prioritizing development over results. Boston, meanwhile, shot an efficient 49% from the field and 45% from three, overcoming 20 turnovers with sharp execution in key stretches.
These two teams won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as they face off again Friday night at TD Garden. Boston will look to extend its winning streak to four games and tighten up the sloppy ball-handling that allowed Brooklyn to stay close for much of Tuesday’s matchup. The Nets, on the other hand, will try to build on the stretches of strong play they showed and attempt to snap their nine-game losing streak to the Celtics. With both teams adjusting quickly to familiar opponents, Friday’s meeting promises another fast-paced, high-energy matchup.
