Lessons from Celtics vs. Nets: C’s win handily to start the All-Star break.

Lessons from Celtics vs. Nets: C’s win handily to start the All-Star break.

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The Brooklyn Nets were defeated 136-86 by the Boston Celtics, with full game highlights available. Boston’s record after the victory rises to 43-12 overall and 26-3 at home.

With six straight victories and the best record in the league going into the NBA All-Star break, the Boston Celtics are leading the league.

In their rematch with the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at TD Garden, they went undefeated and up to 43-12. Following a tough victory on Tuesday at Barclays Center, the C’s easily defeated their Eastern Conference opponent, 136-86, in front of their home audience.

After Boston outscored Brooklyn 68-32 in the first half, the game was all but gone. That’s the fewest points the Celtics have given up in the first half of the season and their biggest advantage at the half since 2010.

Joe Mazzulla’s 100th victory as head coach came on Wednesday. At 137 games, he becomes the fifth-fastest NBA coach in history to reach the 100-win mark.

For the C’s, Payton Pritchard scored a team-high 28 points to lead the way. With a commanding lead going into the fourth quarter, Derrick White and Jayson Tatum—both sporting white headbands—added 27 and 20 points, respectively, before being benched. After coming back into the starting lineup, Kristaps Porzingis scored 15 points and did not play in the second half.

The C’s are officially in their All-Star break. Tatum and Brown will play for the squad on Sunday in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. On Saturday, Brown will take part in the Slam-Dunk Contest as well.

Here are three things to remember from Wednesday night’s blowout before we move on to All-Star Weekend.

Headband D-White takes the lead
For Wednesday’s game, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White made the decision to wear white headbands in solidarity with Jrue Holiday. During halftime, White gave NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin an explanation of the unexpected fashion statement.

“JT said he wanted to wear a headband, so I said I’ll ride with you,” White explained.

They both entertained the TD Garden crowd in the final game before the break, so maybe they’re onto something.

After scoring 19 points in the first half, White finished with 27 points through three quarters on 10-of-16 shooting (5-10 3-PT). During the whole fourth quarter, Boston led 46–0.

His stat line now included five rebounds and four assists, but it was his +44 that truly stood out.

One final reminder that White deserves to be in this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game came from his incredible performance. Mazzulla stated, “Clearly, winning isn’t important.”

Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser should be in the 3-point competition.

Sam Hauser, a sharpshooter, expressed interest in competing in the 3-point competition during All-Star Weekend to correspondent Abby Chin earlier this month.

Yes, that would be awesome. He remarked, “I’m not really hanging my head over it. “It happens if it does. It doesn’t if it doesn’t… I get to spend more time with my family, which I will adore, if I decide not to travel. It will be cool to participate if I am able to go.

It’s unfortunate that he was not chosen to be one of the eight contestants. For the past two years, Hauser has been a fantastic 3-point shooter for Boston coming off the bench. He had a 40.9 percent 3-point shooting percentage going into the contest on Wednesday.

Hauser outperformed that figure in the victory over Brooklyn. The 26-year-old, who started in place of Jaylen Brown due to a right shoulder contusion, hit 4-of-7 from beyond the arc (5-8 FG) and finished with 14 points in 29 minutes. In addition, he recorded two assists, five rebounds, and one steal.

At some point in his career, Hauser most definitely deserves to be invited to the 3-point competition, and Payton Pritchard ought to go with him.

Pritchard’s outstanding performance on Wednesday served as a reminder of his 3-point shooting ability. The 26-year-old guard scorched 6-for-9 from outside the arc (11-16 FG) to take advantage of his increased playing time (31 minutes). He was only two points short of tying his career high as he finished with a team-high 28 points.

Now is the time to start petitioning to have Hauser and Pritchard compete in the 3-point tournament the following year.

An epic-scale explosion
But how dominant were the Celtics on Wednesday night, even if they defeated the Nets by a massive 50 points? Let us place the decisive win in the correct context.

This season, Brooklyn’s 86 points versus Boston was their lowest total.
This season, it was the C’s second-largest margin of victory. Their biggest victory over Indiana was 51 points.

Against the New Jersey Nets in 2010, Boston recorded the biggest halftime lead (36) in team history.
In the history of the team, this was the Celtics’ fifth 50-point victory.
A positive start to the break. In their first game back, the Celtics will host the Chicago Bulls on February 22.