Celtics vs. Nets score, takeaways: Boston rallies in fourth to sink Brooklyn in Game 2, takes 2-0 series lead

The Boston Celtics take a commanding 2-0 sequence lead over the Brooklyn Nets after grinding out a 114-107 win Wednesday night time. Boston’s protection was the difference-maker on this contest, because it made life extremely tough for Kevin Durant as soon as once more limiting him to taking pictures simply 23.5 % from the sector. The Nets took command of this sport early on, working up a 17-point lead at one level, however after halftime the Celtics buckled down and commenced executing on offense.

Jayson Tatum hit clutch photographs down the stretch and completed the night time with 19 factors, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, whereas Jaylen Brown tacked on one other 22 factors within the win. It was actually a balanced assault from the Celtics as all 5 starters scored in double figures, and Grant Williams got here up huge off the bench with 17 factors. The sequence will now shift to Brooklyn for the subsequent two video games, because the Nets attempt to get again on this sequence in opposition to a dominant Boston crew.

Listed here are three takeaways from Sport 2.

1. Celtics protection gave Ok.D. all kinds of issues

Durant has constructed a legacy off being some of the tough gamers in NBA historical past to protect. His distinctive mixture of measurement and talent make it so his shot is actually unguardable as he can elevate over anybody and get a clear look off. Every time the ball leaves Durant’s arms you assume it is stepping into; that is simply how deadly of a scorer he is been all through his total profession. 

However on Wednesday night time, Durant did not seem like the man who’s sometimes unstoppable as he struggled closely to get into any type of rhythm. Ok.D. completed with 27 factors, however he went simply 4 of 17 from the sector, and if it weren’t for the 18 factors on the free throw line he would’ve had simply 9 factors within the sport. That is insane, and you must tip your hat to the Celtics protection. This wasn’t simply an off night time from the longer term Corridor of Famer. This was an all-out defensive assault executed to perfection from the Celtics. Each journey down the ground Durant was met with defensive strain, both from double groups or simply straight up stifling protection. 

This was extra than simply Boston trapping Durant a bunch and forcing the ball out of his arms. The Celtics weren’t permitting any respiration room for Durant to do something on offense, and it did not matter who was in entrance of him both. That is what makes Boston’s protection so elite. It has the flexibility to change almost the whole lot, and the Celtics have a lot size and athleticism that it is not totally stunning that Durant appears to be like flustered on offense. Boston pressured him into committing six turnovers as each participant inside arms size of Durant on protection had lively arms attempting to frustrate him and get him out of a rhythm, and it labored. That is definitely the most effective any crew has ever defended Durant, and it may drive Brooklyn to regulate for the remainder of the sequence to attempt to determine a method to get him higher alternatives.

2. A balanced scoring effort from Boston

This was a kind of video games that confirmed you why having nice depth is so vital within the playoffs. Seven gamers completed in double digits for the Celtics, and Boston received nice manufacturing out of its two key bench gamers in Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard. Williams particularly had a stellar night time from begin to end. Within the first quarter he and Daniel Theis have been the one two gamers on the Celtics who may get something occurring offense, and saved the sport inside attain as Brooklyn got here out of the gates attacking. His protection was simply as noteworthy as he had a number of stable possessions guarding Durant, and performed a hand in forcing him into a pair turnovers.

If it weren’t for the manufacturing of fellows like Williams, Theis and Al Horford within the first half, the Nets would’ve probably been up by much more initially of the third quarter. However as a substitute, the position gamers saved the crew afloat and lower a 17-point lead into simply 10 factors heading into halftime. It is also value nothing that these gamers have been capable of get buckets oftentimes due to passes from Tatum. Although Tatum struggled scoring within the first half, going simply 2 of 8 from the sector, he racked up 5 assists and put his teammates in an ideal place to get straightforward photographs. Tatum’s passing has been one of many key enhancements in his sport this season, an space the place Good mentioned the crew wanted him to enhance to raise his sport. Tatum definitely took that to coronary heart, and his improved courtroom imaginative and prescient was on full show in Sport 2. He impacted the sport along with his passing within the first half, then started to take over down the stretch along with his scoring to assist Boston pull out a win. 

3. Kyrie Irving must do extra

Irving completed the sport with simply 10 factors on 4-of-13 taking pictures from the sector and recorded only one help. That is unacceptable. The Celtics are going to proceed to swarm Durant each journey down the ground, and Irving wants to have the ability to decide up the slack when that occurs. The Nets cannot afford for Irving to have an off night time as a result of they do not have the depth the place they will depend on guys when the celebrities are feeling defensive strain. 

Bruce Brown did a superb job at producing offense, as he completed with 23 factors. However that alone is not going to be sufficient. We have seen Irving fully take over video games, and this was his alternative to do this whereas Ok.D. was struggling. However Irving appeared out of kinds, and nothing just like the dynamic guard able to torching you for 30-plus factors on any given night time. He wasn’t attacking the rim as a lot, or creating alternatives for his teammates, and as a substitute was forcing a pair photographs and have become a non-factor within the fourth quarter as he went 1 of 4 for simply two factors within the remaining 12 minutes of the sport. That is not going to get it completed in opposition to the Celtics, and Brooklyn should hope that Irving can get stepping into Sport 3, as a result of if Boston places the clamps on Durant once more, it will need Irving to step up.