Even though they didn’t have a perfect weekend, perfect is an apt description of how the Brooklyn Nets played the game this past weekend. Despite more injuries, they once again put up the good fight in one, then won the other.
Following the Boston Celtics loss Saturday, the Nets were able to fight back against the Atlanta Hawks and earn themselves a 122-114 victory. It definitely wasn’t easy, though, as Trae Young was doing Trae Young-like things with a 28 and 12 performance. Along with that, the refs weren’t exactly Brooklynites, according to Cam Johnson who willed his way to a 28-point performance. Still, the Nets won, and that’s all that matters.
I mentioned the Celtics in the first paragraph for a reason. Guess what folks, we’re playing them again! As the Nets head to TD Garden for their third game in four days and sixth in eight games, the Nets will hope to keep it close against the defending champs then maybe pull it out. That’s how the Nets play against pretty much any opponent. It will be the very end of the game that will be the deciding factor.
Where To Watch
Check out the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network. For out-of-towners and those watching from foreign shores, it’s NBA TV.
Injuries
For the Nets, two-ways Reece Beekman, Tovan Evbuomwan, and Tyson Etienne will in Wisconsin along with Dariq Whitehead, in hopes of winning out and getting into the playoffs. Cam Thomas and De’Anthony Melton are of course out for the season. Noah Clowney (ankle) and Ziaire Williams (achilles soreness) are probable. D’Angelo Russell (ankle) doesn’t even appear on the injury status report.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown will be out due to back problems that bothered him this past weekend against the Nets. To make matters worse for Boston, Jayson Tatum is questionable (knee).
The Game
This game can either go two ways. Either the Nets take advantage of Batman and Robin not being at 100%, or the grueling pace of the last couple of weeks will finally take its toll. While the answer is unclear, both teams have players that have proved they can step up without a superstar.
For the Celtics, Jrue Holiday is somebody you have to watch out for. As my fellow NetsDaily writer Brian Fleurantin put it, “he does a little bit of everything for his team.” Call me crazy, but Holiday might be the Deion Sanders of the NBA. Think about it, great on both ends of the game, and was the bonafide reason the last two teams he has been on won a championship. Bet you can’t beat that argument.
On the Nets side, we’re going with an odd choice in Maxwell Lewis. He has to be mentioned. His 10 points were a great contribution to the Nets victory just as his 15 points in 16 minutes vs. the Celtics who now no doubt have him on the scouting report. Here’s Cam Johnson’s take on his young (22-year-old) teammate…
Keon Johnson continued his stellar play as well as he was the second leading scorer for Brooklyn vs. Atlanta with 22 points. Lewis and Johnson along with Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin are all fighting for jobs next season.
Cam Johnson should again be the focal point once again for the offense, as the lack of depth in the shooting guard/forward department can lead to some more looks for him.
As for the Green, no doubt still celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the scoring load may fall on Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics’ 7’3” big man. ICYMI, he put up 24 points against Brooklyn on Saturday.
This will be the last chance for the Nets to get a win over the Celtics this season. They’re 0-3. As for the Celtics, it’ll be a chance to win their 50th game in 2024-25.
Player to Watch
Anyway, Payton Pritchard is another guy to look out for. He lit up the Nets with 22 points and five threes on eight attempts Saturday. His 3-point shooting at Barclays also led him to the record books as he broke the record for most threes made off the bench in NBA history at 219. He’s also the odds-on favorite for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Not bad for a 6’1” four-year college player who Boston took a chance on in the 2020 Draft when they took him with the 26th pick.
Jacob Issenberg of our sister site, Celtics Blog, pointed out this week that while he was drafted as pure shooter, his game has rapidly improved.
Pritchard is on the court and in the NBA for one reason: he puts the orange ball in the basket, but it shouldn’t get lost that Pritchard has improved drastically as a defender, playmaker, and rebounder since entering the league. Every night, top scorers around the league see six-foot-one Payton Pritchard and think it’s time to eat. They often leave hungry. Pritchard will make you work for every bucket. Not to mention Pritchard has developed into a prolific offensive rebounder for his size and position.
A lesson for the Nets and their fans? Players even undersized 22-year-olds taken at the end of the first round can develop into solid NBA players and the Nets currently have three late first round picks.
From the Vault
If you’re looking for the beginning of the Nets rebuild, go back to the St. Valentine’s Day massacre a little more than a year ago. The Nets lost to the Celtics by 50 points at TD Garden. Five days later, Jacque Vaughn was canned. Mikal Bridges had just dissed the Brooklyn crowds in a podcast hosted by his once and future teammates, evidence he wanted out, a wish that was granted.
As Frank Isola said in his post-game that night, it was time for the Nets to “do some soul-searching” …
And they did. Was it enough? We shall see.
More reading: Celtics Blog and SBNation NBA.
