Nets Beat Celtics and Take Season Series

nydailynews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 10th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Post Game Recap

Final Score Nets: 101 Celtics 93

The Brooklyn Nets were able to head up to Boston and take the season series against the Celtics with the win on Wednesday. It is the first time the Nets have won the season series against the Celtics since the 05-06 season, as every win counts for Brooklyn now, as they look to grab the fourth seed, and home court in the first round.

Positives:

- The Nets were led to the win in this game by Point Guard Deron Williams, whose high level of play has been consistent in the second half of the season. Williams scored a game-high 29 points on nine for 18 shooting, with 12 assists, and four rebounds. Williams only went one for six from behind the three-point line, but the one three-pointer that Williams hit allowed him to pass Kerry Kittles for most three-pointers in a season with 159.



- Joe Johnson, who’s been banged up, which has led to concern from the Nets organization looked healthy in this game, as he turned in one of his better games of late. Johnson was able to score 20 points on eight for 15 shooting, which is the first time Johnson has reached the 20 point mark since March 11th. Johnson being healthy and playing well is going to be a major factor in the Nets postseason chances in a few weeks.

- The final member of Brooklyn’s Big 3, Brook Lopez also turned in a good game, as it was one of the few times all season that the Nets Big 3 played well at the same time, and it resulted in a win against a playoff team. Lopez finished with 21 points on eight for 14 shooting against the undersized Celtics frontcourt, but Lopez only had four rebounds in 31 minutes.

Negatives:

- Brooklyn’s bench struggled for the most part in this game, as nobody off the bench was able to score in double figures for the Nets. Overall the Nets bench combined for just 28 points compared to Boston’s, who scored 36 points. The bench went just eight of 24 from the field, as Andray Blatche and Jerry Stackhouse both went two for seven against Boston.

- As should be expected in a game against a New York team Paul Pierce played well as he does most of the time. Pierce scored a team-high 23 points on seven for 11 shooting, but with the Big 3 for the Nets playing well, Pierce’s good game didn’t put much of a scare into the Nets.

- Gerald Wallace was forced to leave the game in the second quarter due to a left heel contusion, and had to be helped back to the locker room. Wallace did not return to the game, but “Crash” had his first basket in his last three games with a dunk in the first quarter. His normal backup Keith Bogans didn’t suit up in this one for the second straight game due to a back injury.

Next up for the Nets will be a big game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night in Indiana, as the Nets look to get closer to securing home court in the first round.