Kristaps Porzingis made a triumphant return to the court after missing eight games due to an illness, scoring 24 points and playing a key role in the Boston Celtics’ narrow 115-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Porzingis truly shined in the fourth quarter, contributing 14 points to help the Celtics fend off a late comeback attempt by the Nets.
The Celtics initially appeared to be cruising to an easy win. Following a decisive 25-7 run that started the second quarter, they built a commanding 21-point lead. However, Brooklyn fought back, trimming the deficit to just two points in the final quarter before Porzingis stepped up with crucial plays in his first appearance since February 26.
Payton Pritchard provided a strong performance with 22 points and surpassed an NBA milestone by setting a new single-season record for 3-pointers made off the bench, hitting his 219th. Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, making significant impacts on the game. Despite recent successes, Boston faced some challenges with Derrick White and Al Horford being rested after securing a playoff spot the previous night in Miami. Additionally, Jaylen Brown had to leave the game in the second half due to back spasms.
For the Nets, Cam Johnson scored 23 points, while Keon Johnson added 21. However, Brooklyn’s struggles continued as they have now lost 10 of their last 11 games. A notable absence for the Nets is Cam Thomas, their leading scorer who is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a strained left hamstring. Initially sustaining the injury in November, Thomas managed to average 24 points across 25 games.
A pivotal moment emerged when Brooklyn closed the gap to 94-92 with just under eight minutes remaining. Porzingis responded with a three-point play, followed by a timely 3-pointer that extended Boston’s lead to 100-92. This sequence helped secure the Celtics’ hold on the game.
Boston has maintained an impressive performance at the Barclays Center, marking their eighth straight regular-season win in Brooklyn, a streak dating back to April 2021.
Looking ahead, Brooklyn will face Atlanta at home on Sunday, while the Celtics will have a couple of rest days before hosting the Nets again on Tuesday night.
