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Tatum Scores 31 Points As The Celtics Dominate The Nets 139-96
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The Boston Celtics beat the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 139-96 on Wednesday night. Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
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In a game where the Celtics never trailed and led by as many as 49 points, Jaylen Brown added 26 points and both of the team's stars made seven 3-pointers.
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Boston was the better team on both ends of the court. They shot 60% through three quarters, which helped them get their biggest win of the season.
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Robert Williams came back from a sprained ankle to finish the game with 16 points and nine rebounds. Derrick White scored 14 points and grabbed 10 boards.
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The Celtics are first in the Eastern Conference and have won all three games against the Nets this season.
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Kyrie Irving scored 20 points and Cam Thomas added 19. Brooklyn had a hard time all game, shooting only 41% and making only 9 of 39 three-pointers. Since Kevin Durant hurt his right knee on January 8, the Nets are now 4-7.
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Brooklyn had kept up with Boston in the standings without Durant and even though Ben Simmons (left knee soreness) and T.J. Warren (left shin contusion), who both missed their third straight game, had been hurt recently.
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The Celtics had all of their regular players available except for Marcus Smart, who is still out with a sprained right ankle and has missed the last five games. The Nets started the game by making only 2 of 14 shots from the field. This gave Boston an advantage, and they quickly built up a 33-7 lead.
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Irving missed four of his first five shots, and the crowd in Boston booed every time he touched the ball. This was similar to how he was treated on his last two trips to TD Garden.
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Tatum scored 18 points by the end of the quarter, which put Boston ahead of the Nets 46-16 going into the second quarter. Boston's 30-point lead in the first quarter was the first time in the team's history that it beat its opponent by 30 points in the first period.At the half, the Celtics were ahead 79–45.
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TIP-INS: In the first quarter, the Nets made 6 of 21 shots, which is 29%. Simmons and Warren did not go, but their coach, Jacque Vaughn, said that they are both getting better and hope to be back as soon as Saturday.
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Tatum scored at least 30 points for the 29th time this season for the Celtics. In the first half, Boston scored 22 fast-break points to the Nets' one. In the first quarter, they made 18 of 29 shots (62%), including 8 of 11 3-pointers. Julian Edelman, a former wide receiver for the Patriots, was sitting courtside.
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COME NEXT: The Nets will start a five-game home stand against the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
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Friday, the Celtics will be hosting the Phoenix Suns.