Nets Vs Celtics: Celtics defeat Nets, post one of NBA's best offensive performances in nets vs celtics rout
In the nets vs celtics matchup in Boston, the Celtics poured in an historically efficient offensive performance, shooting a season-high 66. 7% (52-of-78) and beating the Brooklyn Nets 148-111 on Friday. The win arrives as Boston awaits a possible return from Jayson Tatum and builds on a hot stretch since the All-Star break.
Nets Vs Celtics: Boston's historic shooting night
Boston's 66. 7% from the field (52-of-78) was a season high and, including the playoffs, the club's third-highest single-game percentage in the shot clock era (since 1954-55), behind marks of 67. 9% in 1984 and 67. 0% in 1990. The Celtics also shot 64. 7% from the 3-point line and posted an 80. 8% effective field goal percentage, the highest in the shot clock era; effective field goal percentage adjusts shooting efficiency for the extra value of 3-pointers.
Brown and Vucevic combine for 56 points and boards
All-Star Jaylen Brown led Boston with 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vucevic also scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, recording his third double-double as a member of the Celtics.
Coach Joe Mazzulla on reads, Vucevic and team balance
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he thought the team "did a good job reading the game, " adding that Vucevic "really looked comfortable in his offensive reads and his offensive screening. He unlocked a lot of stuff for us. " The depth showed: all 13 Celtics players scored, and Boston committed only three turnovers after halftime.
Jayson Tatum's recovery and comments on timing
The Celtics are waiting to see if Sunday's home matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers will mark the return of Jayson Tatum. It has been 41 weeks since Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in May in the waning minutes of the Celtics' loss to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. After practicing with the Celtics' G League team two weeks ago, Tatum said he had not decided whether he would return and that "it doesn't mean that I'm coming back or I'm not, it's just following the plan. So it's just another step. " He added, "I don't know percentage. I just know I feel a little bit better every day. I just try to focus on that. "
Schedule changes, standings and the upcoming injury report
The game's move into an 8 p. m. ET prime-time slot, after originally being scheduled earlier in the day, created speculation it could signal Tatum's plan to return. The Celtics are required by the NBA to release an initial injury report by 5 p. m. ET on Saturday ahead of Sunday's home game against the 76ers. Boston, winners of five of its six games since the All-Star break, sits at 39-20 and in second place in the Eastern Conference.
