Celtics clamp Nets and efficient Dragic in fourth quarter, take 2-0 series lead / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP – Scanpix Credit AP – Scanpix

Jaylen Brown scored 10 fourth-quarter points, the Boston Celtics erased a 17-point deficit and rallied for a 114-107 (24-33, 31-32, 30-25, 29-17) victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Player of the Game EFF 22 Grant Williams Points 17 Accuracy 4-4 Rebounds 6 Assists 0

Brown made 9 of 18 shots and drove a defensive effort that held Brooklyn to 17 points in the final 12 minutes.

The Celtics trailed by 17 late in the first half and got the deficit down to 90-85 through three quarters before dominating the fourth. Boston did not get the lead until Payton Pritchard’s 20-footer made it 94-92 with 7:49 remaining and Brown hit a layup and a 3-pointer to push the lead to 99-94 with 6:04 left.

Jayson Tatum added 19 points, including seven straight down the stretch for the Celtics, who can open a 3-0 lead Saturday in Brooklyn. Tatum shot 5 of 16 but his 3-pointer over Goran Dragic opened a 108-96 lead with 2:07 remaining.

Reserve Grant Williams added 17 points and Al Horford contributed 16 for Boston. Daniel Theis added 15 and Smart contributed 12 as the Celtics shot 52 percent.

Kevin Durant led the Nets with 27 points but shot 4 of 17 from the floor. He had six turnovers and never found a rhythm under constant double-team pressure in the fourth quarter. Bruce Brown added 23 but former Celtic Kyrie Irving was serenaded with boos at every turn and scored 10 on 4-of-13 shooting.

Dragic contributed 18 and Seth Curry chipped in 16 as the Nets were 5 of 19 in the fourth and shot 46.1 percent overall.

The Nets held Tatum without a field goal and built a 33-24 lead through the opening quarter. The Nets held a 62-45 lead on Durant’s layup with 1:45 left and the Celtics ended the half with a 10-3 spurt to get within 65-55 entering the third quarter.

The Celtics began the second half on a 19-3 run and trailed 72-70 when Brown stole the ball from Durant and Tatum coasted in for the dunk with 7:38 left.

Celtics: Jaylen Brown 22 (6 AST), Jason Tatum 19 (6 REB, 10 AST), Grant Williams 17 (6 REB), Al Horford 16 (6 REB), Daniel Theis 15 (6 REB), Marcus Smart 12 (5 AST), Payton Pritchard 10.

Nets: Kevin Durant 27 (5 AST), Bruce Brown 23 (8 REB), Goran Dragic 18, Seth Curry 16, Kyrie Irving 10 (8 REB).

Full game highlights

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