Celtics drop Game 1 in Brooklyn, 104-93

They did most things right, and from a franchise playoff record nine-block night from Rob Williams to a defensive effort that limited Brooklyn to an uncharacteristically choppy night, the Celtics discovered that even this wasn’t enough.

With Jayson Tatum (22 points) not hitting a shot in the second half and Kemba Walker (15 points, 5-for-16) struggling throughout, the Celtics simply didn’t have enough firepower in their 104-93 Game 1 playoff loss to Brooklyn.

The Celtics were put down by a massive 17-3 fourth quarter run that had all three Nets stars contributing big shots — just like it’s designed. Kevin Durant (32 points), Kyrie Irving (29) and James Harden (20 points, eight assists, eight rebounds), after a slow first half, closed out the Celtics with an authoritative second half.

The Nets threw a haymaker in the third quarter, opening space with runs of 7-0 and 11-0 early, though a late 6-0 Celtics run, including a pair of hoops from Jabari Parker, limited Brooklyn to a 78-73 lead.

The Celtics, despite shooting 38 percent, only trailed by five points. Robert Williams opened the fourth with his fifth block of the night, this one of Durant, converted down the other end, and then blocked Nicolas Claxton twice — all with the Celtics trailing by five points despite two more misses from Walker — 3-for-12 to that point.

Parker, with two free throws following an Evan Fournier hoop, cut the Nets lead to three points with 7:27 left.

The Nets struck quickly, starting with an Irving step-back jumper over Marcus Smart. The former Celtic came back with a pull-up 3-pointer, and when Durant stole the ball from Tristan Thompson and cruised in for the dunk, Brooklyn had an 89-79 lead with 5:48 left.

The run extended to 12-2 for a 94-81 Nets lead with 3:30 left on an Irving tip.

In addition to holding the Nets to a 47-point first half, the Celtics had 9-for-17 downtown shooting to thank for their 53-47 halftime lead.

And they were doing it with balance,with three players scoring eight points or more, led by Tatum’s 15 points, and taking strength from Smart’s 11-point, three-trey first half.

Durant (5-for-15), Irving (4-for-10) and Harden (2-for-7) were all off to slow starts, but as evidenced by the Celtics’ slim five-point lead, their margin for error was thin.

Durant drove that point home when he scored the first four points of a 6-0 quarter-opening run by the Nets in the third, and when the Celtics answered with four straight points, Irving and Durant hit back with consecutive threes, triggering an 11-0 burst that Harden capped from downtown for a 65-57 Brooklyn lead.

But the Celtics took these punches and hit back, with two straight hoops from Parker, including a transition drive after stripping the ball from Durant, figuring prominently in the Celtics’ ability to limit the damage to a 78-73 Brooklyn lead at the end of the third.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3fhbZax