Brooklyn, which has struggled since the February business departures of stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, was powered by Mikal Bridgeswho scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Cameron Johnson, who added 20 points.
Brooklyn had lost four straight and was heading for another lopsided loss when the Celtics took a 51-23 lead with 7:23 left in the second quarter.
38 PTS | 10 RECs | 4 ASD | 59.1 FG%Go now @mikal_bridges 😮💨 https://t.co/5xVXvgdQ5F
— The Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) 1677956401000
“We just kept fighting, we had saves and that was the biggest thing,” said Bridges, who arrived in the trade that sent Durant to the Phoenix Suns. “It all started with our defence.”
The Nets had cut the deficit to nine points by halftime and taken the lead for the first time — and for good — with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
The win marked the biggest comeback of the season, eclipsing the Lakers‘ fights back from a 27-point deficit in a win over Dallas.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 35 points. Jayson Tatum, who turns 25, added 22 points with 13 rebounds but the Celtics lost two of their last three and slipped a bit further behind the Milwaukee Bucks at the top of the East.
Shout out to @doefinney_10 💪17 PTS | 9 RECs | 2 BLACK | 5 3pm https://t.co/vZB7A39sLd
— The Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) 1677946817000
“We got off to a really good start playing the right way and we just took it easy and it cost us,” the Celtics coach said. Joe Mazzulla.
In Denver, reigning two-time most valuable player Nikola Jokic scored 18 points with 18 rebounds and 10 assists, his 25th triple-double of the season to push the Nuggets to a 113-97 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in a battle of the first two. western teams.
The Nuggets, who are a perfect 25-0 this season when Jokic posts a triple-double, stretched their lead atop the standings to six games.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 26 points and Jamal Murray scored 11 of 22 in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets pulled away after entering the final period tied.
20 points and a W birthday 👏 https://t.co/xKAezZ1bRQ
— The Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) 1677942937000
“I just got aggressive,” said Murray, enjoying his front row seat for Jokic’s incredible season.
“He loves coming through and doing the good reads and pushing us forward. He’s been doing it all season. It’s amazing to watch every night. You don’t know what to say about him because he keeps doing it. “
Ja Morant, wearing a protective mask after suffering a broken nose in Houston on Wednesday, scored 27 points and provided 10 assists for Memphis.
In Miami, Julius Randle scored 43 points, draining the game-winning three-pointer with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the New York Knicks to an eighth straight win, 122-120 over the Heat.
Jalen Brunson added 25 points for the surging Knicks.
Jimmy Butler scored 33 points for Miami and Tyler Herro added 29. Herro’s layup gave the Heat a lead with 23.1 seconds left.
Randle responded, offering the game winner after nearly getting the ball pushed away by Butler.
Golden State, still awaiting the return of injured star Stephen Curry, earned a fifth straight victory, 108-99 over the New Orleans Pelicans in San Francisco.
Klay Thompson scored 27 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 19 off the bench as the defending champions rallied from an early 17-point deficit.
Family of three. https://t.co/bdvyMzMuhw
— The Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) 1677938402000
The Sacramento Kings held off the Los Angeles Clippers 128-127 – a week after winning a 176-175 double-overtime thriller over the Clippers.
The Kings, led by 33 points from De’Aaron Fox, were a perfect 26 to 26 from the free throw line.
In Chicago, Devin Booker drilled six three-pointers on the way to 35 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 125-104 victory over the Bulls.
Durant, playing his second game for Phoenix, scored 20 points to help his team hold off a 31-point performance from Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan.
(With contributions from agencies)
