The Brooklyn Nets (27-13, second in the Eastern Conference) welcome the Boston Celtics (30-12, first) to Barclays Center on Thursday for the second of four matchups this season. The Celtics currently lead the regular-season series 1-0.
In the first game, on Dec. 4, Boston beat Brooklyn 103-92. The Nets came into the game with a four-game winning streak, but Celtics wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 63 points to help their team win the game. Kevin Durant (who’s now out with a right MCL sprain) and Kyrie Irving had good games, but had too many turnovers and missed shots.
Brooklyn is in a tough spot coming into this game and for the next month as well. When Durant missed 21 games last season with a similar injury, the team suffered an 11-game losing streak and won only five out of 21 games. However, the Nets should be better positioned to handle Durant’s absence since Irving is available to play all of the games and Simmons is healthy and available to play as well.
Boston comes into this game winning 11 of their past 18 games, most recently beating the New Orleans Pelicans 125-114. Tatum and Brown have scored 30 points in the same game 19 times this season so Brooklyn has their work cut out for them. The Celtics could be without Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III.
Here’s when and where you should tune in to see the matchup: