2 min read • February 24, 2022
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The first nationally televised game coming out of the All-Star break pits the young and healthy Boston Celtics against the sinking Brooklyn Nets.
The Celtics entered the break having won 9 of their last 10 games, including victories over Philadelphia, Atlanta and Brooklyn.
The Nets are heading the opposite direction in the standings, losing 8 of their last 10 to drop to eighth place in the East.
Injury Advantage: Celtics
With main scoring threat Kevin Durant out and star guard Kyrie Irving unable to play in the home game due to the current vaccine mandate, the Nets will likely struggle to find scoring options against Boston.
The Celtics have given up the third least points thus far and held the Nets to 91 points in their last visit in early February.
Jevon Carter, a fourth-year journeyman point guard, was Brooklyn's leading scorer in that game with 21. The Celtics won that matchup by a score of 126-91 and were ahead 69-43 at halftime.
James Harden did not play in that early February contest and has since been dealt to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.
Simmons is still without a return date, but Curry and Drummond have been welcomed additions to a Brooklyn squad needing depth at the shooting guard and center positions.
In three games for the Nets before the All-Star break, Curry averaged 18.3 points on 48.8% shooting from the field and 52.2% from three. He will likely be the main scoring threat in home games for Brooklyn for the foreseeable future.
New York City reportedly has a plan to phase out its vaccine mandate "in the coming weeks." When that happens, Irving will be eligible to play in home games as well. Until then, his absence leaves the Nets without many offensive options.
On the defensive end, the Nets have allowed the 19th most points to opponents this season and rank 24th in offensive rebounds allowed.
Expect a big rebounding night from Celtics center Robert Williams, who is averaging a career-high 3.9 offensive rebounds and 9.7 total rebounds per game.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should also see plenty of scoring opportunities against a Brooklyn team that has allowed an average of 110.3 points to opponents during home games this season.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Celtics were favored by 9-points and the over/under was set at 214.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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