Celtics hold off Nets, take 2-0 series lead

A defensive masterclass has propelled the Boston Celtics to a 114-107 Game 2 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Boston to go up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

The Celtics found themselves down 17 in the first-half but managed to claw their way back into it and come away with a decisive victory on their home floor. Their work on the defensive end in the second-half was the catalyst for the win, holding Brooklyn to just 42 points after a 65-point first-half. Boston, who finished the regular season with the league’s best defensive rating, did a superb job of slowing down Brooklyn stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Durant finished with 27 points and 5 assists but shot just 4-of-17 from the field and turned the ball over on six occasions. The 33-year-old was fresh off a Game 1 performance in which he scored 23 points on 9-of-24 from the field and 1-of-5 from three. Irving, meanwhile, backed up his 39-point outburst in Game 1 with a lacklustre 10-point, 8-rebound effort in which he shot just 4-of-13 from the field and missed his only three-point attempt. Outside of their star duo, Bruce Brown enjoyed one of the most productive outings of his young playoff career, putting up 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in 38 minutes, whilst Seth Curry added 16 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from three and Goran Dragić added 18 points off the bench.

Boston, meanwhile, were led by Jaylen Brown’s 22 points, 10 of which coming in the final quarter, 6 assists and 3 steals, whilst six other Celtics also reached double-figures scoring. Jayson Tatum shook off a quiet first-half to finish with 19 points and 10 assists, whilst Grant Williams added 17 points and 6 rebounds off the bench, hitting on all three of his three-point attempts. Starting bigs Al Horford and Daniel Theis combined for 31 points and 12 rebounds, whilst Payton Pritchard added 10 points on 5-of-7 from the field in 15 minutes off the bench.

The Celtics’ coaching start deserves a tonne of credit for the gameplan they devised and their ability to contain both Durant and Irving. Game 3 of the series will be played in Brooklyn on Sunday and a Celtics’ win would virtually end the Nets’ hopes. Brooklyn head coach Steve Nash needs to uncover a way to make life easier on his stars or his team may find themselves headed home. Ben Simmons is still yet to appear for Brooklyn and appears to be progressing towards a return potentially in Game 4.

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