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The Nets rallied from a 28-point deficit to stun the Celtics in a 115-105 win thanks to newcomer Mikal Bridges, who leads the comeback by scoring 38…as Boston loses more ground to the East leaders , Milwaukee.
The Brooklyn Nets overcame a 28-point deficit to stun the Boston Celtics 115-105 on Friday night.
As part of the trade that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix, Mikal Bridges proved to be a crucial weapon in the Nets’ arsenal Friday night by scoring 38 points to help them defeat the Celtics.
He has reached 30 or more points in three of Brooklyn’s last six games. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, playing nearly 43 minutes.
Fellow former Sun Cam Johnson added 20 points. Dorian Finney-Smith finished with 17.
It’s the biggest comeback by a Boston opponent since the Los Angeles Clippers also overcame a deficit of 28 to beat Boston 123-112 at TD Garden on February 9, 2019.
The Boston Celtics blew a 28-point lead to lose 115-105 to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Mikal Bridges proved to be a crucial weapon in the Nets’ arsenal on Friday night by scoring 38 points.
The Celtics have lost two of three and lost more ground on East-leading Milwaukee, which was inactive on Friday.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 35 points. Jayson Tatum, who was turning 25, had 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Boston led by 28 in the first half before being outscored 69-43 in the second and third quarters.
The Nets scored just 23 points in the first 16 minutes of the game, allowing Boston to go up 51-23 with 7:23 remaining in the first half.
It evaporated into a series of jumpers and individual possessions for the Celtics as Brooklyn rode a 57-23 run to advance 80-74 with 3:56 left in the third quarter. The lead was 106-90 early in the quarter.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 35 points but it wasn’t enough to save them from defeat
During a wild sequence, the Nets grabbed four offensive rebounds and had five shots on one possession before the Celtics were finally able to corral the ball, prompting a fast break and Derrick White layup. It was one of the few Boston highlights the rest of the way.
The Nets’ frenetic rally also saw the Celtics lose big man Robert Williams for the night after he left early in the third with a strained left hamstring.
A 3-pointer by Marcus Smart brought Boston within 110-102 with just over four minutes to play. But Finney-Smith responded with a 3-pointer of his own on the Nets’ next possession.
The lead grew to 51-23 early in the second, but the Nets cut it to 64-55 at halftime.