Defeat 93-104 of about Boston Celtics that, to the surprise of almost everyone, they started a game very well that escaped them in a second half in which they could not keep up with the rhythm of the Nets.
The best of Stevens was Robert Williams III, with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 9 blocks (a franchise record), who despite his injury, changed the game, and was the player who most altered Durant and company plans. Jayson Tatum, who scored 17 points in the first half, but finished with 22 in total, was the top scorer, being Marcus Smart the best of the headlines, who did not have their night.
From the Nets, Kevin Durant kept his team afloat with very difficult baskets during the first half, for a total of 32 points, and Kyrie Irving he topped the Celtics in the end, finishing with 29 points.
The first half was almost ideal for a Boston Celtics who came out pressing on defense and very successful from the triple. Hand in hand with Tatum, who did not reappear after the break, Stevens’s men managed to contain the star trio from Brooklyn, who failed to score a three-point shot, and who saw their attempts to attack the basket overshadowed by the great performance by Robert Williams III.
It’s a shame we can’t see the center at his highest level in this series, because the Celtics are a very different team with him on the track. He managed to turn off the lights on the entire Nash offense with a historic performance in blocking, in addition to providing much more fluidity on attack than the Celtics have with Thompson on the court.
The second part, with Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum totally cold (foul problems did not help), was dominated by the Nets, who began to meet from the triple, and were an unstoppable engine for a very short Celtics on offense. It was tried that Jabari Parker It was a shock from the bench, but without playing bad, it was a constant target of the onslaught of the Nets.
Stevens’ men continued to fight, applying themselves in defense and without leaving the game until the final minutes, when nothing came out, and the Nets got a comfortable lead.
In statements from the coach, he admitted that the main problem was found in attack, and that they will be able to do better in the following games.
It’s going to be tough to see such a bad start from the Brooklyn stars again, but the recipe for doing well in this series is in the first half of this game.
The Boston Celtics will play the second game of the series, also in Brooklyn, next Tuesday at 1:30 Spanish.
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