Jaylen Brown is enjoying a fast start to the season and is starting to get some help from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White.
All three made massive contributions to the Celtics getting to .500 on Sunday, and Boston is hoping to see more of the same in Tuesday night’s visit to the Brooklyn Nets, who are winless at home.
Brown is averaging 27.4 points on 50.5% shooting, and the four-time All-Star has seven games of at least 30 points so far — two fewer than last season, when he averaged 22.2 points in 63 games. The Celtics improved to 4-3 when Brown scores at least 30 by holding on for a 121-118 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Brown scored 13 points in the fourth quarter while shooting 14 of 33 from the field, but was aided by efficient showings from Pritchard and White.
Pritchard scored 28 of his season-high 30 through the first three quarters, when the Celtics held a pair of a 24-point leads before letting it slip to five entering the fourth. White’s 22 points were his second-highest total this season and the Celtics are 3-1 when he finishes with at least 20. White had 15 points in the first half as the Celtics led by 14 at intermission.
Pritchard is coming off consecutive 20-point showings for the first time this season and is 13-of-23 from 3-point range in his past two games after shooting 25.6% from behind the arc in his first dozen outings.
White also is coming off his first consecutive 20-point showings this year and is averaging 19.4 points over his past five games.
“It’s inevitable,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said about Pritchard and White. “They work too hard and they’re too good of players. They’ll go up, they’ll go down, but at the end of day, they’ll make plays, and we’ve just got to execute as a team.”
The Nets are 0-6 at home and a loss on Tuesday would match the 12-win 2009-10 team for the longest home skid to start a season in franchise history. Brooklyn is attempting to earn consecutive wins for the first time after pulling away for a 129-106 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
The Nets clinched the game with a 23-4 run in the third and fourth quarters after seeing their lead slip to one point, while tallying their most points since a 132-114 win at Portland on Jan. 14 of last season.
Brooklyn also totaled at least 120 for the second time this season as it shot a season-best 53.2% and handed out a season-high 32 assists.
“They responded,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “You get punched and then you punch back. Those are the moments where you see the growth, and the group comes together.”
Michael Porter Jr. scored 34 and nearly posted a triple-double with nine rebounds and seven assists. He has scored at least 20 eight times so far, including in six straight, while shooting 48.2% in his past six.
Brooklyn also saw Tyrese Martin add 20 to lead a reserve unit that finished with 51 points. Nic Claxton also had a strong all-around showing with 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and a season-high four blocks.
The Celtics are 14-1 vs. the Nets in the past 15 regular-season meetings.
–Field Level Media
