Nets Fall Short in OT Thriller Against Celtics, 125-124
The Brooklyn Nets almost grabbed their first win of the season on the road against the Boston Celtics, only to fall 125-124 in overtime. It was a game filled with hope and disappointment as the young Nets battled hard but ultimately saw victory slip away in the final seconds.
Starting Changes Spark Early Energy
For the first time this season, the Nets altered their starting lineup by inserting Nolan Traoré at point guard. The French player showed no nerves, aggressively attacking the basket and scoring nine points in the first quarter, including a drive that left Jayson Tatum behind. Day Ron Sharpe also contributed defensively with active hands, helping limit Boston’s offense early.
Celtics Struggle from Deep Before Half
The Celtics, facing the second night of a back-to-back, began cold from beyond the arc, hitting only two of 15 three-point attempts in the first half. Brooklyn capitalized on this, along with strong performances from Mo Wagner and Chaney Johnson, who combined for 23 points on nearly perfect shooting. Despite Jayson Tatum’s 16 points and four assists, Boston trailed by five at halftime.
Third Quarter Surge by Celtics
Traoré kept attacking early in the third, displaying some of his best play yet, but the Celtics soon caught fire, making eight of 14 threes in the period. They reclaimed the lead with just over a minute left in the quarter. Unfortunately, Traoré had to leave the game due to cramping, limiting his impact in the final stages.
Late Fourth Quarter Fight
The Nets faced foul trouble, especially with Sharpe picking up his fourth foul after Traoré exited. Despite turnovers and Boston’s improved shooting, Brooklyn’s young duo of Michael Porter Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. combined for 25 points in the fourth, shooting seven of eleven from three. The Nets erased an eight-point deficit, tying the game six times and briefly taking the lead twice in a back-and-forth finish.
Dramatic Final Moments and Overtime
With under a minute remaining, Brown Jr. tied the game with a high left-handed finish. Boston regained the lead on an and-one by White, then extended it with free throws from Tatum and Randle. After a missed free throw and a rebound secured by Mitchell Robinson, Brown Jr. nailed a three-pointer with three seconds left to force overtime.
In OT, Brooklyn surged ahead early, with Randle scoring four quick points and Porter Jr. blocking two shots. Brown Jr. hit one three but missed several others, allowing the Celtics to stay close. Paul George’s free throws cut the lead to one late in the period.
With 28 seconds left and a one-point lead, Brown Jr. tried to seal the win but missed a crucial layup. Boston grabbed the rebound, called a timeout, and gave Tatum an isolation look. Tatum did not miss, hitting the game-winning jumper as time expired.
"Obviously on that layup, Mikel, you want to dribble it out because you want to take more time out of the clock and then they’ll foul you," Coach Jordi Fernández said after the game. "Good intentions, but if you go for the layup, you got to make it. But even if you make it, it’s still a one possession game. But he’ll learn from it. I just told him that he was not happy with himself and it’s a lot. But the kid also was a reason why we were there. He got it going and he showed that when the big lights are bright and they’re on, he can perform. So a lot of good things, a lot of the good things as a unit, and got to move on to the next one. I know it’s tough, but I take the positives."
Brown Jr. summed up his feelings in a tweet, while his father and former coach, Chris Brown Sr., praised his son's accountability after the loss.
Defensive Breakdown on Final Play
Fernández admitted a defensive mistake on the last shot. The team switched onto Tatum when they wanted to keep a bigger defender on him. This switch allowed Tatum to get a cleaner look and score the buzzer-beater.
"We’re not supposed to switch there because we wanted to keep a bigger body on him," Fernández explained. "We did switch. He bumped. Keon tried to contest and he got a shot that he can make… We wanted to maintain the matchup on Tatum with Noah Clowney because he’s big… And then he bumped and then he shot over. Then Keon, who was on the ball, was supposed to track and contest that or help a little bit because we knew that most likely the shot was for him."
Player Performances
- Jayson Tatum: 40 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 10-20 FG, 18-22 FT
- Mikel Brown Jr.: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5-17 FG, 4-11 3PT
- Nolan Traoré: 15 points, 3 assists, 6-9 FG, 1-2 3PT before cramping out
Injury Updates
Egor Dëmin left in the second quarter due to a right leg contusion after colliding with Paul George. Postgame, he downplayed the injury, saying he expects to return in a few days. Coach Fernández confirmed Traoré suffered cramps during the game and pulled him to prevent further issues.
What’s Next for the Nets?
Brooklyn will open their NBA Cup campaign on Friday night at home against the Detroit Pistons. Last season, the Nets struggled against the Pistons, going 1-4. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.
Final Score
- Boston Celtics: 125
- Brooklyn Nets: 124 (OT)
