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You were wondering if Deron Williams was playing like an All-Star again? Well, stop wondering |
Second game of a back-to-back? Check. Road game vs division rival? Check. Road game vs playoff team? Check. All-Star-like performances from Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, and Brook Lopez? Check. Double-digit rebounds from Reggie Evans? Check. All of those things describe tonight's Nets win over the Celtics in Boston, a win that clinches the season series between the two teams in favor of Brooklyn.
Conversely from yesterday's win over the 76ers, the Nets got out of the gates pretty slow this evening, watching the Celtics race out to a 17-9 lead early in the 1st quarter before coming back and eventually taking the lead by the end of the quarter. From then on, the Nets would lead for basically the rest of the game (other than about 30 seconds at the beginning of the 2nd quarter). Although the lead dipped under 10 a few times throughout, Brooklyn was able to keep the Celtics at far enough a distance away to ensure a solid victory.
Some other observations I had from the game: #ReggieEvansReboundWatch: A measly 14. Anything under 20 seems like a massive letdown at this point……Gerald Wallace took a rough spill in the 2nd quarter after knocking shins with a Celtic. He was diagnosed with a left heel contusion and never returned. However, Ian Eagle on YES reported that the injury wasn't too serious and that Gerald could have returned if the game was a little closer, perhaps……Deron Williams: 29 points, 9-18 shooting from the field, 10-10 from the free-throw line, and 12 assists. Brook Lopez: 8-14 FG shooting, 5-5 FT shooting, and 21 points. Joe Johnson: 20 points, 8-15 FG, and 4-6 3FG. Massive games from all three members of the Nets' Big Three leads to a huge Nets win. That's this team's formula for near-certain success.
Looking Ahead
The Nets head to the Midwest to face off with the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers, on Friday night in Indianapolis.
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