The Boston Celtics hung with a Kevin Durant-less Brooklyn Nets for three and a half quarters, but the wheels fell off late in the fourth as former Celtic Kyrie Irving went off for 40 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Nets to a 121 – 109 win.
The Celtics were lead by All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum’s 31 points and 5 boards, with veteran guard Marcus Smart adding 19 points off the bench in his first game back from a calf injury since a late January loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Big man Daniel Theis chipped in 17 points and 8 boards, while All-Star forward Jaylen Brown had one of his toughest-shooting nights of the season, going 5-for-23 fr 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.
The Celtics lead by as much as 11 in the first quarter, and kept things close throughout, but Brooklyn ultimately outplayed them in the clutch to hand Boston its 18th loss of the season, their first since Feb. 24 against the Atlanta Hawks.
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The Celtics next face the Houston Rockets on Sunday, March 14 at 7 p.m. ET on the road.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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