Nets 107 vs 114 Celtics summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs

The Boston Celtics will head to Brooklyn with a 2-0 series lead after their fourth quarter comeback from TD Garden on Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics to victory with 22 points in Game 2.

Nets role player set tone early

Brown missed all of the Celtics playoff game last year due to injury, and looks like he is making up for lost time in this series.

With so much star power on the floor it would be the role players that made the difference early on. Neither Kevin Durant, nor Kyrie Irving, nor the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum had a big Game 2 as the spotlight was shared by the supporting cast.

The Nets got off to an early led that they kept well into the fourth quarter thanks to Bruce Brown and his personal 9-0 to start the game. Much like the in Game 1, the first quarter was marred by fouls and stoppages which made it hard for any team to get into a groove, but Grant Williams had eight straight points to end the opening 12 minutes but the Celtics still trailed by nine.

In the second quarter it was Goran Dragic’s turn to take center stage, and the Slovenian scored 13 of his 16 first half points in the quarter to stretch the Nets lead to as much as 17.

Boston's top ranked D locks down in 2nd half

There was a 15-5 run by the Celtics in the middle of the third quarter sparked by some stingy defense that forced Brooklyn into some careless turnovers to cut the Nets’ lead to 5 points. Boston would tie the game minutes later, but would have to wait until the fourth quarter to take the lead after going into the final 12 minutes down 90-85.

Four minutes into the fourth quarter, Payton Pritchard gave the Celtics their first lead of the ball game with a step back jumper from just inside the three point line. Boston pounced to take the lead while the Nets went through a nine minute stretch in which they were held to just four points. Kyrie Irving disappeared in the fourth quarter and ended the game with just 10 points, while KD finished with 27, but had another tough night from the field, going 4/17 on the night.

Once the Celtics got the lead they didn’t let it go. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum took over to sheppard Boston to a Game 2 win. Brown ended with 22 points and Tatum had 19 points and 10 assists on a night where seven of the eight Celtics who got playing time finished with double digits.

The series heads to New York as Brooklyn will desperately seek to cut into the deficit on Saturday night. Tip off from the Barclays Center is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

This three from Tatum sealed the game with two minutes remiaing, He finished with 19 points and 10 assists in a night in which most of his points came from the FT line.

Watch the mean mug from Brown at the end of this video. The Celtics were without Brown last year in the playoffs, but he is making up for lost time this postseason.

Pritchard gave the Celtics their first lead of the night with this step back deep to.

Another KD turnover that was converted to points.

The Celtics defense was air tight on KD all night. This was one of Durant's 6 TOs.

Dragic had 13 points in the second quarter to help stretch the Nets lead to 17.

KD and Brooklyn jumped all over the Celtics in the first quarter.

Brooklyn got off to a hot start thanks to Bruce Brown's first 9 points.

Dragic lays it in for the final bucket of the game. It's all over from TD Garden!!! Boston wins Game 2 and take a 2-0 lead to Brooklyn.

Curry hits a three in the corner, but it's too late for the Nets. Under a minute to go.

Pritchard with a jumper to get it back to a double digit lead.

KD at the line again. He his both and he's 18/20 from the stripe tonight.

Smart gets the runner off the glass to drop as the shot clock was running out, and the Defensive Player of the Year with one of the plays of the game.

KD at the line, and he hits two of two.

BKN: 4 points in the last 9:30

TATUM FOR THREE AND THAT MIGHT HAVE JUST ENDED IT!!!!

Tatum running right to left across the paint and gets the floater to go.

Tatum at the line, he hits both and he's got 14 on the night.

Tatum is fouled on a drive by Kyrie and the Nets will challenge. Looks like Iriving got a lot of Tatum's arm, and the refs keep the call on the floor.

Brown on the pick and roll with KD, and KD hits him for the floater in the lane. The Nets needed to see the ball go in the basket. Timeout with 3:32 left in the fourth.

Smart going to the line after the foul from KD. He hits both and the lead is 7.

BKN: 2 points in the last 7 minutes.

Brown drops the three ball and the Celtics lead by 5. TD Garden is going wild! 14-2 run for Boston as we go to a timeout with 5:23 to go in the fourth.

Irivn gets the friendly roll in his old home.

Brown with beauty and brute to get to bulldoze his way to the basket and finish with the soft touch.

Prtichard with the shake and bake on Curry, pulls up for a long two and gives the Celtics their first lead of the night.

Brown takes it to the rack, hangs and puts it off the glass. We are all tied up.

Brown for three off the seventh assist from Tatum!! 15 points for Brown.

Curry's jumper moments earlier has been changed to a two point FG.

Pritchard from the FT line hits the jumper and the Nets want a TO with 9:40 to go in the fourth.

The 4th quarter is underway from Boston and Curry gets things started with a three. He's got 17 on the night.

We are at the end of the third quarter and we have a 5 point game going into the final quarter.

Brown wiggling through everyone and hitting the tough lay up.

Pritchard with the jumper just off the bench.

What an offensive rebound after Dragic had to launch up a prayer, and it leads to a Mills three.

Claxton just airballed a FT after an empty trip to the line. THat drew a roar from the Boston crowd.

It's KDs turn to go to the line. Both drop for Durant and he's got 19.

Kyire to the line, he hits both.

Smart at the line out of the timeout and hits both FTs.

Brown give the lead back to the Nets with the bucket underneath.

Thies ties it up with a short jumper in the paint.

Willams at the line, he hits both and he is 6/6 from the line

Tatum at the line hits the first, and the second is rebounded by Williams who gets the put back to go.

Brown to Claxton over the top for the alley oop! The lead is back up to 7 after the C's cut it down to 2.

Theis patient underneath after the feed from Brown.

KD to the line after Tatum picks up a second foul in a matter of minutes. Both FTs are good for Durant.

Curry ends the 15-5 run with a three ball from the same spot as a moment ago.

Tatum with the finish after the strip on KD from Brown.

Horford in the corner for three right in front of the Nets bench, and he returns the chirrping favor after  Curry was giving it to the C's. He's got 16 and two threes this quarter. Timeout Nets with 8:09 to go in the third quarter.

Drummond takes Horford off the dribble and gets the lay up and the foul. FT is no good.

Brown swipes KD, goes coast to coast, gets the bucket and the foul. FT is good and the lead has been cut to 5.

Tatum goes to the line, and hits both. He's got 9 points on the night and still looking to get heated up on the offensive end.

Curry in the corner for three right in front of the Celtics bench. They were chirpping at him, and he was giving it back after making the triple.

Horford with a three in the corner and then the assist of the night, maybe of the first round after faking the shot and finding Theis wide open underneath.

Brown to the line after getting fouled on what would have been a specatular dunk. Both FTs good.

We are back in action from TD Garden!

Goran Dragic took over in the second quarter.

Check out the dish to find Theis down low.

Horford got going early with this fast break and one. He's got 10 and 4 after posting 20 and 15 last game.

KD had a much better first half than he did in the first Game where he went 2/10.

Brown couldn't stop scoring for the Nets to start the game. KD and Kyrie can't do it alone, and Brown looks like he's going to be the one to step up tonight.

Brown was unconcious to start the game.

Kevin Durant has 15 through the first half, while Kyrie is having a quiet half with just 6.

Grant Williams leads the Celtics with 13 points. Tatum has 7 on just 2/8 shooting.

The Nets jumped out to a big lead early on thanks to Bruce Brown's 9-0 point run to start the game. They lead stretched out to as much as 17 in the first half. Goran Dragic leads all scorers with 16 after a 13 point second quarter.

Brown get the lay up to cut the lead to ten going into halftime.

Dragic silences the crowd with a three ball in the corner! He's got 16, 13 in this quarter.

Tatum for THREE!!! BOS is on an 8-0 run.

Horford hits a three to stop the run and bring the crowd to life, then Tatum gets the steal and score.

KD this time going at the rack and finishing. He's got 15 on the night.

KD drops a three, and the Nets look like they are having a much easier time scoring the basketball than the Celtics.

Theis goes to the line, and he hits 1/2

Dragic has hit the last four shots for the Nets! He's got 13 points!

Horford getting the offensive board and the put back to go and one! FT is good and Horford is having a great series.

Dragic from the elbow! He's 4/5 with 9 points.

Dragic in the paint with the fade away and the Nets are getting some good production off the bench. Dragic has 7 of the 10 bench points.

Horford called for the goaltend on Curry's lay up down low.

Drummond showing the strength and size down low.

Six straight for Smart who took Drummond off the dribble and finished with the english off the glass.

Smart missed the FT, but the C's get the rebound and find Smart for 3!!! A four point possession!.

Smart gets Boston back to the line, and they have shot a total of 13 FTs already, making 9 after Smart hits one of two.

Irivng off the offensive rebound and that will make him happy. He said in a postgame interview the Nets need to hit the boards harder tonight.

Brown with the alley oop off a Curry assist and he's got his first points of the second half, 14 in total.

Curry drills the three ball and the Nets are back up by double digits.

Dragic with the floater and he's getting some good minutes off the bench.

Theis with the lay up off the Tatum assist. He's got 4 assists already after getting 8 last game.

Grant had 8 for the C's, Brown had 12 and KD had 10 in the first quarter for the Nets.

Williams starting where he left off!! Three ball, and he's got the last 11 for Boston.

The first quarter comes to an end With Williams heating up.

Williams for three!! THis time from the top of the key!!! He's got back to back triples who has the last 8 Celtic points.

Claxton to the line. That's the 16th foul of the first quarter.

Williams in the corner. Open for three, Open for buisness!

Dragic going strong to the rack, gets the bucket and the foul. FT is good

Mills with a jumper to get on the board for the first time tonight.

It's Williams turn to go to the FT line, he hits both.

Each team swapping free throws before and after the timeout late in the first quarter. This has been a physical first quarter, there have already been 14 fouls in the first quarter.

Kyrie just went to the locker room after getting swapped out, as someone was pointing at his watch on the Nets staff. I believe that is his signal that the sun has gone down, and he can eat and drink according to the Muslim tradition of Ramadan.

White to the line and he hits one of two to get on the board.

Brown driving strong to the rack! The Nets were exposed in the paint last game, and Brown going right into the heart of the paint for his first points of the night.

KD back to the line, and he hits both FTs.

Curry drops a three ball from the top of the key. Great ball movement so far for the Nets in the opening 7 minutes.

KD to the line, and he hits both and he got four points.

Kyrie hits an elbow jumper to momentarily silience the crowd, and the Brown drops a three ball.

Kyrie getting his ususal caucaphony of boos when he touches the ball. He is swarmed by a double team and the crowd goes wild.

Curry is called for the flagrant. Tatum hits both FTs, and the Celtics get the ball back.

Three straight turnovers for the Nets. The third leads to a hard foul and Curry committed a hard foul which will be reviewed by the refs.

Horford running th break and streaking down the lane for a bucket and one. FT is missed. He had 20 and 15 rebounds last game.

There's KD with his first bucket of the game. This is going to be a very obvious statement, but the Nets are always better when KD has a big game. Iriving had a good game in Game 1, but it wasn't enought.

Tatum with the first points of the Celtics night out of the timeout.

Brown again!!! He picked up the offensive rebound and the Boston native gave up the ball to get it back and lay it in with the second chance points. Nine points already for Brown!

Brown with a floater and he's got the first 7 points of the game.

Brown goes to the line after getting fouled on the drive. Both FTs are good and he's got a quick 5 points.

Brown gets going early with a corner three. As always the question is going to be, who steps up to play the supporting cast to KD and Kyrie.

We are underway in Game 2 from TD Garden!!!

Tonight’s odds

According to Bet365.com the Celtics are 3.5 point favorites at home with the Over/Under set at 226. I love the over in this game. Still no clue who is going to win, although I think the Nets will pack their best punch to avoid going back to Brooklyn down 0-2.

Steve Nash is going with the same five as in Game 1. KD will be hoping to get off to a better start than in the opener.

The Celtics going with the same starting five as in Game 1. They used just through players off the bench in the opener.

Andre Drummond sharing an incredible moment with a Nets fan who beat cancer before the game He took a picture with the young man and gave him his warm up shirt.

Smart refelcting on beginning of season

Marcus Smart talked about how far the Celtics have come since the start of the season after the dramatic win, "It was fulfilling for us, especially because of the way we started this year off, those types of games we lost," Smart said. "We were probably crumbling. ... But the resilience that we have, the approach we have, and the work we put in to make sure that doesn't happen. And you just learn."

Star Watch: Boston

Jayson Tatum started off the game as more of a set up man than anything else. He got his teammates involved early on and let the game come to him. He finished with the 31 points and 8 assists while Jaylen Brown had 23 points including some clutch shots late in the fourth quarter.

Star watch: Brooklyn

There’s no secret who the Celtics will be locking in on tonight. The always dangerous duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had very different opening games. Both got off to slow starts, but Kyrie Irving turned it around in the final three quarters to finish with 39 points and six assists, but KD had an off night scoring just 23 points on 9/24 shooting, with six turnovers.

Defensive Player of the Year

Marcus Smart was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year on Monday, becoming the first guard to win the distinction since the 1995-96 season when Gary Payton of the Seattle Super Sonics did it. Smart edged Mikal Bridges and Rudy Gobert. He was the leading man on a Celtics team that had the best defensive rating in the league at 106.2.

Irving fined for fan interaction

Kyrie Irving heard it from his former fans all night long. Irving spent two seasons in Boston, but left the Celtics to form part of the then Big Three of James Harden and Kevin Durant. Boston is an unforgiving city with a good memory. They unleashed on Kyrie all game long, and Irving responded more than a few times throughout the game. His actions earned him a $50,000 fine. After the game Kyrie told the media, “When people start yelling pussy and bitch and fuck you, there’s only so much you can take as a competitor,” said Irving. “Naw, fuck that, that’s the playoffs, it is what it is. I know what to expect in here and I’m ready to give the same energy back to them.”

Game 1 summary

Last game went down to the wire as the stars for each team took longer than expected to get themselves into the game. Both teams went blow for blow in the first half, exchanging the lead 17 times in the first 24 minutes. Boston and Jayson Tatum worked up an 11 point lead after two separate 9-0 runs in the third quarter gave them an 11 point lead. Brooklyn battled back to take the lead with eight minutes to go, and a tug of war ensued with Tatum and Celtics securing the final pull on the last possession of the game. The spin and lay up as time expired gave Boston Game 1.

We are live from Boston

Hello everyone and welcome to TD Garden for Game 2 of the first round series between the Celtics and the Nets. If the opening game of the series was any indication of what awaits us throughout the series than fasten your seatbelts, we are in for a wild ride.

Nets vs. Celtics

The Boston Celtics had a last gasp win over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 and are seeking to double their advantage tonight in what is sure to be a rocking TD Garden. AS English will have you covered with live updates, stats, scores and analysis of tonight’s pivotal match up from Boston.

Steve Nash's starting five is the same as Game 1. KD will be looking to have a better start then he did last game.

Tonight’s odds

According to Bet365.com the Celtics are 3.5 point favorites at home with the Over/Under set at 226. I love the over in this game. Still no clue who is going to win, although I think the Nets will pack their best punch to avoid going back to Brooklyn down 0-2.

Irving wants Brooklyn on the boards

Kyrie was the top scorer on Sunday, but the Nets still came up short. He stressed the importance of hitting the boards hard, "We'll definitely clean up on things we can control like their offensive rebounding, limiting them to one shot, one possession," Irving said. "I feel like that's what gave them life at the end of the game, getting those offensive rebounds and making some big plays."

The Celtics starting 5 for Game 2 of the first round. No changes in Ime Udoka's first five. Let's see if Al Horford is as effective as he was in the opener when he had 20 points and 15 rebounds.

The Nets rolling up to TD Garden with the drip.

Celtics post game reaction

Marcus Smart talked about how far the Celtics have come since the start of the season after the dramatic win, "It was fulfilling for us, especially because of the way we started this year off, those types of games we lost," Smart said. "We were probably crumbling. ... But the resilience that we have, the approach we have, and the work we put in to make sure that doesn't happen. And you just learn."

Star Watch Boston

Jayson Tatum started off the game as more of a set up man than anything else. He got his teammates involved early on and let the game come to him. He finished with the 31 points and 8 assists while Jaylen Brown had 23 points including some clutch shots late in the fourth quarter.

Star watch: Brooklyn

There’s no secret who the Celtics will be locking in on tonight. The always dangerous duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had very different opening games. Both got off to slow starts, but Kyrie Irving turned it around in the final three quarters to finish with 39 points and six assists, but KD had an off night scoring just 23 points on 9/24 shooting, with six turnovers.

Defensive Player of the Year

Marcus Smart was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year on Monday, becoming the first guard to win the distinction since the 1995-96 season when Gary Payton of the Seattle Super Sonics did it. Smart edged Mikal Bridges and Rudy Gobert. He was the leading man on a Celtics team that had the best defensive rating in the league at 106.2.

Irving fined for fan interaction

Kyrie Irving heard it from his former fans all night long. Irving spent two seasons in Boston, but left the Celtics to form part of the then Big Three of James Harden and Kevin Durant. Boston is an unforgiving city with a good memory. They unleashed on Kyrie all game long, and Irving responded more than a few times throughout the game. His actions earned him a $50,000 fine. After the game Kyrie told the media, “When people start yelling pussy and bitch and fuck you, there’s only so much you can take as a competitor,” said Irving. “Naw, fuck that, that’s the playoffs, it is what it is. I know what to expect in here and I’m ready to give the same energy back to them.”

Irving fined for fan interaction

Kyrie Irving heard it from his former fans all night long. Irving spent two seasons in Boston, but left the Celtics to form part of the then Big Three of James Harden and Kevin Durant. Boston is an unforgiving city with a good memory. They unleashed on Kyrie all game long, and Irving responded more than a few times throughout the game. His actions earned him a $50,000 fine. After the game Kyrie told the media, “When people start yelling pussy and bitch and fuck you, there’s only so much you can take as a competitor,” said Irving. “Naw, fuck that, that’s the playoffs, it is what it is. I know what to expect in here and I’m ready to give the same energy back to them.”

Game 1 summary

Last game went down to the wire as the stars for each team took longer than expected to get themselves into the game. Both teams went blow for blow in the first half, exchanging the lead 17 times in the first 24 minutes. Boston and Jayson Tatum worked up an 11 point lead after two separate 9-0 runs in the third quarter gave them an 11 point lead. Brooklyn battled back to take the lead with eight minutes to go, and a tug of war ensued with Tatum and Celtics securing the final pull on the last possession of the game. The spin and lay up as time expired gave Boston Game 1.